London’s Brick Lane A Stolen Bike Mecca

mossj88 | Informative, Locations, London, Recovery, Uncategorized |

So whilst I’ve been looking for my own bike I kept coming across mentions on Brick Lane Market for bikes that were stolen in London. Surely the problem can’t be that bad I thought…

After getting a report of my bike being for sale in London, I finally had the opportunity to find out… and boy was I wrong.

I’ve found a video on YouTube that effectively demonstrates just how wrong I was, this was most likely shot at roughly the same time I was there as it’s the same people selling the bikes.

There are around 5 permanent stands for bike shops (selling both bike parts and used bikes), and then one major place where teenagers stand “their” bikes against the curb in order to flog them to passers by. Even walking through I was offered a laptop by someone that quickly scarpered when I politely declined.

The map below shows these locations..

View Stolen Bikes – Brick Lane Market in a larger map

Whilst I was there I unfortunately didn’t spot my bike, but had I done I’m not sure what I could of done about it… The teenagers (about 15 of them), appear to be smart enough to keep to one bike each meaning should the police come round the corner they can disappear with their stock in next to no time (this happened more than once that day).

In short if your bicycle is stolen in London get yourself down to Brick Lane the following weekend.

P.S One tactic the police are now using is to stop those that have bought the bikes, so don’t buy stolen bikes at Brick Lane Market.