Thick as Thieves
- Thread starter bikeworkshop
- Start date
Here's an everyday capture of a thief on an (in all likelihood stolen) ebike. Ripping through central London at 50mph )+
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mobile-phone-snatcher-police-london-b2557118.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mobile-phone-snatcher-police-london-b2557118.html
baron von greenback
Senior Retro Guru
Haha just writing about stolen bikes and my lads just came in and his bikes been nicked only a crap halfords carrere ( cant be trusted with a proper bike ) turns out a crackhead just nicked it got it back now though only nicked it to get around on
These are well organised crime gangs, with distribution networks and 'fences' all over the country. It's not localised, it's national. High end ebikes are generally shipped out of the country to Europe on a regular basis, where theres a huge market in selling potentially untraceable bicycles. We intercepted about 200 bikes a few years back in Amsterdam that had all been nicked in the UK. We managed to put roughly a third back with their owners, who were from every part of the country.
Don't be fooled by the kid on the scooter with a big knife, he ain't acting alone. There's a whole chain of command going on behind the scenes and the proceeds are all going back in to the purchase of ever bigger shipments if drugs. Buy in bulk, sell it cheaper, increase your market share. Simple economics.
RFID and sub paint QR codes would put a stop to a lot of that. There was a trial a few years back of chipping bikes in the States, but no one here, it seems has the balls or the nouse to put it into action.
baron von greenback
Senior Retro Guru
I agree bikes being shipped abroad i meant going to markets in this country them nicking the bikes are bottom of the food chain and qr codes etc are a good idea and would cost next nothing being done at factory which is great for new high end bikes this stuff is not difficult to stop the police go about it wrong you send a wolf to kill a wolf
Totoro
Senior Retro Guru
My friend was burgled a few weeks back, they had stacked all his work tools up but must have been disturbed as they left them all but took his new Orbea. He found it for sale on FB and contacted the police, told them it was his, he has all the paperwork and the numbers match... They told him to go and see the seller and try to get it back!!! I wouldn't have believed this if it hadn't happened to somebody I know, I've always stuck up for the over worked and under appreciated police but really can't defend this.
Bike was missing for a week before it showed up for sale online only 20 miles away. It should be handling stolen goods at the least. I only have space for one bike so can't have a cheap spare so have to keep it secured. If I had to lock it up unattended in public then I'd just leave it at home. Quite bloomin sad that it has come to this really.
Bike was missing for a week before it showed up for sale online only 20 miles away. It should be handling stolen goods at the least. I only have space for one bike so can't have a cheap spare so have to keep it secured. If I had to lock it up unattended in public then I'd just leave it at home. Quite bloomin sad that it has come to this really.
I think it's up to individuals to take online unsafe spaces like FB and eBay to court and from there to the national press. It's a scandal that any stolen goods could be sold on these platforms. We really on a certain level of trust with institutions to facilitate democracy in the UK and these US based entities should either abide by that trust or bugger off elsewhere. I could personally live without either
Totoro
Senior Retro Guru
I think they would just remove the listing, leaving the stolen bike stolen.
Ebay would possibly ban the sellers account, I'm not on FB so I don't know anything about what they do.
I've seen quite a few stolen bikes (friends and friends of friends) on FB and they do bugger all when it's reported.
Totoro
Senior Retro Guru
I guess you have to be able to prove it but in my friends case he can or else they might think you are just being malicious or incorrect.
Its a shame I do have some morals and ethics because this thread has taught us the best way to steal bikes and that in the UK you probably wont get punished unless caught red-handed and even then they probably wont do much. Also we know you can just sell them on social media.
Half joking, at least there have been some good tips about securing your bikes and which type of locks to avoid.
World has gone nuts, I'm sure there was less of this kind of crime than this in the past and more people cared.
