Stolen Bikes Thread - Mod Note please read post #1 before posting

sebcity

Muahahaha wrote: »

What I'd be keen to know is what the Gardai are doing about bike theft ? Are they being pro active or re-active on the issue ? When a bike theft is reported do they just log the crime and hope it shows up somewhere or do would they even go about getting CCTV recordings and trying to identify the thief ?

That program from the UK about bike theft showed the police using some clever methods, placing GPS chips inside high end bikes and waiting for them to get stolen. Have the Gardai ever attempted a similar approach ?

Also they should really be looking to clamp down on the sellers of these bikes. I'm convinced that this is organised crime at this stage as bike theft has reached epidemic levels.If there's 10 bikes being stolen per day in Dublin with a value of €500 each then the annual value being nicked is some €1.8m. It might be higher than that, I don't know but at those kinda of levels I'd think bike theft in Dublin is largely run by one or two small groups of highly organised criminals. Which means that somewhere in Dublin there is likely one, if not two small warehouses used as clearing shops for stolen bikes.

It really wouldn't take much for the Gardai to find out where these warehouses of stolen bikes are. In fact with GPS chipping technology now cheap and widely available there is really no reason not to employ those tactics and get to the root of the cause.

From my experience - the Gardai will only do something if you can identify your bike up for sale and then arrange a "sting" operation where you meet the seller and the Gardai then move in. I don't think they actively look for the bike of their own accord - which is probably fair enough as they have more important things to be doing.

We have the names of a couple and their address - they sold my bike and in the following weeks they sold at least 6 more bikes. We told our Garda about this, he didn't seem to care unless it was our bikes they were selling which we could identify in person.

Deedsie

sebcity wrote: »

From my experience - the Gardai will only do something if you can identify your bike up for sale and then arrange a "sting" operation where you meet the seller and the Gardai then move in. I don't think they actively look for the bike of their own accord - which is probably fair enough as they have more important things to be doing.

We have the names of a couple and their address - they sold my bike and in the following weeks they sold at least 6 more bikes. We told our Garda about this, he didn't seem to care unless it was our bikes they were selling which we could identify in person.

I would agree they have more important things to do when it is one bike. But when it is 135 pages of very rarely caught bike theft it has to be getting close to a point where a Garda team with whatever resources are required to at least try to find out where te bikes are going after thefts? If there is a pattern perhaps a case could be built and arrests eventually made?

A sting operation with a nice bike poorly locked under surveillance would catch you a thief in jig time anywhere in Dublin City centre. An unmarked squad following him? Or a tracker on the bike to follow it.

Chips Lovell

Several posts have been deleted.

Please do not use Boards to accuse or imply someone has stolen a bike.

r65

stolen lower sean mc dermot street, fifteen minutes ago. Black specialised cirrus, large. slighr misting of blue paint over the word specialised.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Bolt cutters in Aldi for 8 euro... fantastic

Has anybody used any of the GPS tracking products on their bikes? If so, what's the best model to go for?

Thanks.

Peace

Micah Salty Casket wrote: »

Bolt cutters in Aldi for 8 euro... fantastic

Has anybody used any of the GPS tracking products on their bikes? If so, what's the best model to go for?

Thanks.

lidl, not aldi.

Pompous

sebcity wrote: »

From my experience - the Gardai will only do something if you can identify your bike up for sale and then arrange a "sting" operation where you meet the seller and the Gardai then move in.

Wrong. I had my bike stolen and the thief put it up on adverts.ie 30 minutes later. I went to the Gardaí with this information, as well as cctv footage of the scumbag robbing the bike. They didn't place an offer on the ad and they didn't even bother looking at the cctv. I couldn't even speak to any Gardaí about the case after I reported it because I had to "speak to the Garda you reported the crime to", who was conveniently never at the station and never got back to me when I left messages.

I have since lost all faith in the Gardaí.

Deedsie

Pompous wrote: »

Wrong. I had my bike stolen and the thief put it up on adverts.ie 30 minutes later. I went to the Gardaí with this information, as well as cctv footage of the scumbag robbing the bike. They didn't place an offer on the ad and they didn't even bother looking at the cctv. I couldn't even speak to any Gardaí about the case after I reported it because I had to "speak to the Garda you reported the crime to", who was conveniently never at the station and never got back to me when I left messages.

I have since lost all faith in the Gardaí.

Did you report it to the Garda ombudsman?

italodisco

Why would you not make an offer and meet the fella on the premise you will buy .... You can have friends follow you from a distance.

It's your property , go get it back if it's advertised for god sake.

And I have to say I'm damn angry at aldi selling those bolt cutters !!

Muahahaha

sebcity wrote: »

From my experience - the Gardai will only do something if you can identify your bike up for sale and then arrange a "sting" operation where you meet the seller and the Gardai then move in. I don't think they actively look for the bike of their own accord - which is probably fair enough as they have more important things to be doing.

We have the names of a couple and their address - they sold my bike and in the following weeks they sold at least 6 more bikes. We told our Garda about this, he didn't seem to care unless it was our bikes they were selling which we could identify in person.

I think that's the problem. Bike theft is seen as petty theft and generally tough luck. But when it's reached the levels it has then it's become a multi million euro business run by organised criminals. Just because they are stealing lower value items doesn't mean they're not leaking millions a year from the victims of their crimes.

Deedsie wrote: »

I would agree they have more important things to do when it is one bike. But when it is 135 pages of very rarely caught bike theft it has to be getting close to a point where a Garda team with whatever resources are required to at least try to find out where te bikes are going after thefts? If there is a pattern perhaps a case could be built and arrests eventually made?

A sting operation with a nice bike poorly locked under surveillance would catch you a thief in jig time anywhere in Dublin City centre. An unmarked squad following him? Or a tracker on the bike to follow it.

That's the thing really, with GPS it shouldn't be all that difficult for them to assign 5 officers for two full weeks into tracking down the premises and locations these stolen bike end up in before they go elsewhere. Follow that trail and the Gardai might find themselves with a warehouse full of stolen bikes and perhaps other stolen property.

But bike theft doesn't seem to me to be any kind of priority for the Gardai. And so it will go on and on with thousands of bikes being stolen in the city every year.

Simon_K

Muahahaha wrote: »

And so it will go on and on with thousands of bikes being stolen in the city every year.

You mean every week.

Beasty

Simon_K wrote: »

You mean every week.

Source?

Simon_K

No source, I'm just mad. Lots of bikes being stolen and everyone I talk to assumes that this is "normal". Because people stopped giving a damn, so did Gardai...

DominoDub

Well that's one less active.



http://www.independent.ie/videos/have-you-seen/video-hero-tour-guide-tackles-runaway-bike-thief-30516088.html

Colm_D

Don't think I've enough posts to put up a pic (well I'm assuming that's why I cant?)

Help needed Tramore/Waterford area.
My late brother-in-law's Specialised Epic mountain bike was stolen by a youth from the front of Tramore Cycle Services recently, it was handed it into Tramore cycle services on Thursday 14th August for a service. It was waiting near the door for collection and an unknown young man, probably a teenager came and collected it on weds/Thursday 20th/21st and they handed it over to him. The youth claimed the bike had been left in by his aunt. My sister, has been saving this bike for when her son was finally tall/old enough to ride it. The bike holds HUGE sentimental value to my sister and her young family.
Any info to the Guards in Tramore.

CatFromHue

Tramore Cycles just gave the bike to some randomer??

Colm_D

CatFromHue wrote: »

Tramore Cycles just gave the bike to some randomer??

Yep, that seems to be the case.

CatFromHue

It's up to Tramore Cycles to replace the bike so if you ask me!

Colm_D

That's as maybe for down the road sometime, but for now we'd just like to get the bike back. Nothing too unusual about that I suppose in cases of stolen bikes.

2ewy5p8tn9lvh1

shaydy wrote: »

That's a tough loss, very nice bikes. Hopefully you have some luck. Was there many taken in the area or just your bikes? I live not too far from there and cycle that way frequently

Just the bikes and a stimmer and hedge trimmer. There was another robbery the day before but thr gards are convinced there not connected

Thargor

Colm_D wrote: »

Don't think I've enough posts to put up a pic (well I'm assuming that's why I cant?)

Help needed Tramore/Waterford area.
My late brother-in-law's Specialised Epic mountain bike was stolen by a youth from the front of Tramore Cycle Services recently, it was handed it into Tramore cycle services on Thursday 14th August for a service. It was waiting near the door for collection and an unknown young man, probably a teenager came and collected it on weds/Thursday 20th/21st and they handed it over to him. The youth claimed the bike had been left in by his aunt. My sister, has been saving this bike for when her son was finally tall/old enough to ride it. The bike holds HUGE sentimental value to my sister and her young family.
Any info to the Guards in Tramore.

CatFromHue wrote: »

Tramore Cycles just gave the bike to some randomer??

Colm_D wrote: »

Yep, that seems to be the case.

CatFromHue wrote: »

It's up to Tramore Cycles to replace the bike so if you ask me!

Colm_D wrote: »

That's as maybe for down the road sometime, but for now we'd just like to get the bike back. Nothing too unusual about that I suppose in cases of stolen bikes.

Saw this story on Broadsheet just then with a pic of the bike:

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/08/25/he-loved-his-bike

yosser hughes

What do you think?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/08/25/yerka_bike_the_best_bike_lock_impossible_to_steal_maybe.html?wpsrc=fol_tw

iwillhtfu

I think there's more than a good chance it's going to be stolen..

Jocry

My friends Giant hybrid was stolen from her garden in Raheny yesterday evening, it's turquoise in colour with baby seat on the back, see pic attached, owner devastated.

endacl

I see lidl have bolt cutters in again at €7.99...

Avoid locking up on Parnell square for a while.

:mad:

Beasty

endacl wrote: »

I see lidl have bolt cutters in again at €7.99...

Avoid locking up on Parnell square for a while.

:mad:

I really don't think the price of bolt cutters is going to make much of a difference to bike theft. They are just as likely to nick them priced at €47.99 as €7.99...

Jocry

Jocry wrote: »

My friends Giant hybrid was stolen from her garden in Raheny yesterday evening, it's turquoise in colour with baby seat on the back, see pic attached, owner devastated.

Bike returned to rightful owner thanks to eagle eyed owner driving around and spotting said bike, and a couple of close friends having a "chat" with the owners of said house. Thieving scum 0, rightful owners 1

darconio

Jocry wrote: »

Bike returned to rightful owner thanks to eagle eyed owner driving around and spotting said bike, and a couple of close friends having a "chat" with the owners of said house. Thieving scum 0, rightful owners 1

I'm glad the bike was found, but why the thieves were not reported to the police? Are they just getting away with it?

Bloggsie

Morning Boardsies,

Here is a question for all & perhaps some legel eagle may be able to clarify an answer. If John E Scumbag or Mary B Toerag steals a bike & puts it up on an online selling site & sells the bike before the owner can do anything to prevent it. Can the owner persue the website for selling stolen property allbeit unbeknown to them, that being said John E Scumbag has history on a site for selling multiple highend or even just run of the mill bikes & the site are just happy to oblige & I assume take a percentage of the sale. Do they(the site ) not have any obligation to check the ownership of the item being sold, ie proof of purchase by the individual selling the item?

In my eyes they are facilitating a criminal act by allowing the afore mentioned Mr Toerag use them to sell stolen goods!

Thanks for reading.

Beasty

Clearly we are not allowed to permit legal advice to be sought or provided on Boards, but if your suggestion is correct it would probably result in the closure of Adverts.ie, Donedeal, Gumtree and even any local "presence" of the likes of ebay. I suspect such sites will have got themselves comfortable on this aspect of the law