Fantastic you’ve found your bike for sale on one of the many online sites but what should you do now to maximize the chance of getting that bike back home.
The Basics
First things, first. Take some screenshots and notes, just encase the advert is taken down.
You reported it to the police originally right? Phone them back using 101, provide your crime reference number and any details about the advert. When you speak to an officer you need to convince them the advert is your bike, if you can’t convince them of this then they won’t waste resources on it. Be aware that officers like anyone else work shifts so you might not get an instant response.
Further steps
Sometimes the police aren’t as helpful as they could be either they say they don’t have the time or they don’t even bother responding what so ever, if that happens we have a few tricks up our sleeves that you can think about..
- Arrange to buy the bike, make sure it’s a very public place or an address. Once you have this contact the police again and see if they are more helpful…
- Still no luck? If your city based you can arrange to meet them at a tube/train station (with an open Transport Police station) attached. Around half an hour before your due to meet, go to the station and talk to the officers and see if they are willing to help.
- Failing that get in touch, john@stolen-bikes.co.uk
Remember!
Never, ever! go to meet a seller without the police. At the end of the day you are dealing with a criminal, people who steal bikes often don’t draw the line there and you could put yourself at risk.