That'll Teach Me. Nearly Got My Bike Nicked

[nailit]

Nipped down to see mum after work today and left my cycle outside on the porch. Usually lock it but lock broke a few weeks ago and havnt had time to replace it.
Having a cup of tea with mum when she noticed a man walking up the path through the window. I turned and noticed that he was looking at my bike so got to the front door fast to see that he was riding it off. I could run faster than he could cycle, he jettisoned my bike and legged it. (I think he is the only man on the planet to run a 3 minute mile)There was another (female) with him who legged it in a different direction and they had left ANOTHER bike.
If the bike was theirs, then they have lost their bike. If the bike was (PROBABLY) stolen then I am now in possession of someone elses bike.

The man I did not recognise, but the female is a local smack head who sits begging in the town centre.
Rang the police but not really interested (Understandably in the current climate)
Question is...what do I do with the bike that they left behind?

[Pooka1950]

To echo murraymint's question (unless you don't want to answer) how is your mum doing Nailit?

[douglas9401]

At the risk of stating the bleedin' obvious, re (ahem) cycle it.

[10ClarionSt]

Just a thought, but some bikes are security stamped with the owners postcode and house number on the frame under the main pedal cog. We used to have them stamped for our kids, which paid off once when one that had been stolen was returned by a lady police officer - at 11.30 pm! Quite a shock that to have a police officer knocking on your door that late at night! Might just be worth checking.

[10ClarionSt]

Soory ^^^ shoould have said under the large chain cog.^^

[10ClarionSt]

I can't tyre the worms property! Think about it!!!

[douglas9401]

Sprocket!

[10ClarionSt]

No Doug. I'm sure Nailit said it was a bike!

[naomi24]

//lock broke a few weeks ago and havnt had time to replace it. //

I haven't read the thread, nailit, but what have you been doing for the past few months?

[retrocop]

Stoke is Blue now.
//No police left.//


//Since the lockdown Ive seen a LOT more police about around town and none have masks or gloves//

Now you see them and now you don't eh?

[Tuvok]

If you've got a UV light try that and see if its marked.

[nailit]

//anyway..aside..how is mum ?//
Sorry late reply minty, missed ur initial post (lappy playing up doesnt help) Will PM you.

//Just a thought, but some bikes are security stamped with the owners postcode//
Will have a look but the officer who rang me last night said that a bike of that make and model hadnt been reported stolen.
If thats the case then its poetic justice that someone who tried to steal MY bike has now lost his own :-)

//I haven't read the thread, nailit, but what have you been doing for the past few months?//
Various commitments naomi has just meant that securing a bike lock hasn't been high on my list of priorities....it bloody well is now!!

//Stoke is Blue now.
//No police left.// //
More accurate to say no police STATIONS left. My bad retro.

Up until now the bike still hasnt been collected despite reporting it as 'possibly' stolen and even if it wasnt ,its unlikely that the smackhead owner is going to try to retrieve it from the police station.
If its not collected by tomorrow Im going to pick it up from my mums and give it to a charity shop.

Thanks for all replies and suggestions last night, just trying to do the right thing, but trying to contact the police at the moment is difficult...As it elsewhere I suppose.

[pixie374]

Nailit, sorry, I have only scanned through the thread...in your position, I would have taken mine back and left the other where it was. Please be careful, as you have now taken responsibility for the other bike and told the police this. I'm not sure... but you may now have to hold onto it for a certain length of time to let the owner come back for it.

[nailit]

//Nailit, sorry, I have only scanned through the thread...in your position, I would have taken mine back and left the other where it was//
Yeah, I was tempted too but thought that that one may have been stolen as well Pix. As I said just trying to do the right thing. Ill collect it tomorrow from my mums, give it a week or so and then give it away. Ive informed the police, not much more I can do if they wont pick it up/investigate

[pixie374]

I know.... but you also can't prove it was stolen, however likely. So if you have taken something from public property (?) however justified, just be careful now x

[nailit]

//I know.... but you also can't prove it was stolen, however likely//
And (up until now) it hasnt been reported stolen, so it seems that it may have genuinly belonged to the idiot who tried to steal MY bike. Only seems fair that I should now be in possession of HIS bike...and he's hardly likely go to the police complaining that he lost his bike while trying to steal another :-)
Know what you mean though Pix...

[pixie374]

I know, nailit. Morally, entirely fair, I just don't want you getting any hassle for it x

[nailit]

Thanks Pix,
I wont get any hassle. If asked by plod, Ive taken advice and left it where I found it ;-)

[pixie374]

:-) xx