Stolen Bike - think I found it online?

xalot

okay, my very new, very fancy bike - 3 days old- was stolen from my apartment block nearly a month ago and I have reported it to the guards, put a claim on my insurance etc. but have keep an eye on websites selling bikes in the hope it would turn up. An address that is a two min walk from my apartment has listed the exact model (brand new) for sale.

Can anyone advise as the best way to proceed? Am thinking of calling the person as an interested buyer and seeing can I see any evidence that it's mine.

Any ideas are much appreciated.

Hank Scorpio

Is there anything that might be recognisable on the bike?

If you were going to view the bike make sure you bring a friend

xalot

I had lights fitted, a bag carrier and water bottle fitted. It's a brand new bike. I presume they'll have removed the serial number.

dited

Probably worthwhile asking advice at the garda station you reported the theft, they might even recognise the address.

seamus

If it's a popular brand - trek, giant, focus, kellys etc - then you could be barking up the wrong tree. Have you seen any photos of the bike being advertised?

It can't hurt to go along and take a look. Pretend to be an interested buyer, if it's not yours then you can say that you've a few other bikes to look at and you'll come back to him.
If you're sure it's your bike (like 100% sure), then tell him you've to get the cash together and you'll ring him to arrange to pick it up. Then speak to the Gardai who can accompany you to retrieve the bike.
I would agree with nuxx here in that you should bring a mate along - someone you know who'd be confident - in case you freeze up or something.

Tbh, If they're dumb enough to sell the bike from an address less than 1km away from where it was stolen, I very much doubt they'll have bothered to take the serial number off. There should also be a frame stamp which is impossible to remove without grinding it off, so that would be obvious to any buyer.

Karma

what make is it, i am off to check a local "bike shop" which listed my stolen bike of last month...
in D14

xalot

Karma wrote: »

what make is it, i am off to check a local "bike shop" which listed my stolen bike of last month...
in D14

Thanks a million but it's north side. Good luck with finding yours though

Raam

Which website did you find it on?

FatSh!te

Be careful how you deal with this. As if they cop your're onto them and they know where you're based you'll want to avoid trouble later!

I'd a mate who had the exact same happen but there were photos up on the advert and it was deffinately his bike.

He talked to the guards first I think and they went with him (but waited around the corner), got him to identify it first at the viewing and test ride and bring it back to the seller. The guards then went and took the bike off yer man and my mate then collected the bike of the guards at the station the next day, but he soon started getting abusive texts from the seller as they realised he was the one who got the guards onto him - so just becareful if they're close to where you live.

If you don't talk to the guards first, definately bring a mate with you.

Hope it's your's and good luck!

seamus

FatSh!te wrote: »

The guards then went and took the bike off yer man and my mate then collected the bike of the guards at the station the next day, but he soon started getting abusive texts from the seller as they realised he was the one who got the guards onto him - so just becareful if they're close to where you live.

Forgot to mention that. Get yourself a free PAYG SIM from the likes of O2 so that they don't have your actual mobile number.

xalot

Raam wrote: »

Which website did you find it on?

buyandsell

Karma

not mine, anyone missing a Specialised jump bike-orange- maybe a P1 looks new enough but not actually new as the guy was telling me. white MZ bomber forks and cable discs.

madmoe

Love the community spirt here on boards.ie lads and helping each other out!! Us against them after all!

Well done on the suggestion of getting another SIM ;-)

Cheers,
M

happytramp

okay, here is how someone in your position handled the situation and got a successful result. Read it as it will fill you with confidence and help you get your bike back it is also a very good read.

http://www.whatever-whenever.net/blog/2010/08/justice-in-brooklyn/

wayne0308

Really hope it's your bike OP, it's great when stories like these have happy endings. Move as quickly as you can though, as I'd say if the seller is the thief he'll be looking for a fast sale. It should be no problem going to have a look at it at any rate. Fingers are crossed for ya!

macnab

1. Google the phone number to see what adds he usually has going.
2. Have a chat with the Guards, they will do fu*k all but they might tell you if the seller is dodgy or not.
3. Dodgy sellers usually advertise their address incorrectly, ie there is a drug dealer in Ballymun who steals and sells pedigree dogs, but he lists his address as Wicklow.
4. Good luck!!

xalot

Went to view the bike tonight, it wasn't it.

Thanks for all your advice though.

kenmc

Karma wrote: »

what make is it, i am off to check a local "bike shop" which listed my stolen bike of last month...
in D14

Hang on a sec - are you saying that an actual physical bike shop, in D14, is selling a stolen bike? Care to name it?

I can only think of 4 in D14, one of which I doubt does second hand stuff at all (CycleSurgery), another of which I'd consider to be very reputable, one of which I wouldn't even buy a puncture repair kit in and one might not even actually be in D14 at all!

Karma

kenmc wrote: »

Hang on a sec - are you saying that an actual physical bike shop, in D14, is selling a stolen bike? Care to name it?

I can only think of 4 in D14, one of which I doubt does second hand stuff at all (CycleSurgery), another of which I'd consider to be very reputable, one of which I wouldn't even buy a puncture repair kit in and one might not even actually be in D14 at all!

well then, why do you need to ask???
my reckoning was based on the fact only cycleways sold specialised, which is NOT the case. but have a look on B&S or gumtree, you should be able to figure them out from their ads. the P1 just looks like its :rolleyes:in the wrong place.