Recovery Description

Informed the police after finding the bike on Ebay (via this site) three weeks after it was stolen. Was surprised to hear that they were powerless to act owing to the Regulation of Investigatory Practices Act (RIPA) which appears to be a law protecting the rights and sensitivities of criminals. It was only when I informed the police that I had bought the bike and was intending to meet the potential thief that they agreed to act, on the grounds that they owed me a duty of care. They recovered the bike, although it seems the seller was not the thief. Still, he was handling stolen goods, so no sympathy.