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

yosser hughes · 26-04-2017 10:12PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

well, i don't want to go into too much detail, but it did live up to its promise. the bike has been reunited with its owner, and the state is providing room and board to an ungrateful guest tonight.
big thanks to 5CHULZY for spotting it and sharing it; i owe you a pint.
and to steve from adverts who was very helpful, your messages have been passed on to my friend.

Fantastic result! Well done to all concerned.

Steve · 26-04-2017 10:20PM

I'm delighted.
Hope the scrote gets some justice handed out.

BrianHenryIE · 27-04-2017 12:32AM

Chuchote wrote: »

Any recommendations for Kryptonite's Gravity Wheelnutz, which are said to prevent the wheels being stolen because they can't be undone unless the bike is turned upside down? Anyone use them?

I haven't heard of them before.

I used to use the Zefal Lock n Roll skewers which are gravity enabled quick release. They did the job of securing my Reelights that were skewer mounted; I had had some stolen before I started using them. I always locked both wheels anyway, so I doubt they were ever really tested. Mixed reviews on Amazon.

Now I use Pinhead skewers so if someone is thinking of stealing my bike, they'll realise they won't be able to take off the wheels or even adjust the saddle, hopefully deterring them.

ko4jm6y9iwv2lc · 27-04-2017 12:55AM

Can't find a picture I took myself, but included a stock picture. Bike was stolen from underground car park in Ringsend last week. I've been checking adverts & donedeal, but no sign of bike unfortunately.

Chuchote · 27-04-2017 06:25AM

Monserrat Obnoxious Marriage wrote: »

Can't find a picture I took myself, but included a stock picture. Bike was stolen from underground car park in Ringsend last week. I've been checking adverts & donedeal, but no sign of bike unfortunately.

Quoting to show picture rather than link. (To show the picture, upload the photo as normal, post, then right-click on the link and choose "Copy link address", then choose "Edit", click the icon of a stamped letter above and paste in the address, and "Submit reply".

jacob2 · 27-04-2017 11:20AM

Chuchote wrote: »

Quoting to show picture rather than link. (To show the picture, upload the photo as normal, post, then right-click on the link and choose "Copy link address", then choose "Edit", click the icon of a stamped letter above and paste in the address, and "Submit reply".

if u havent a picture of your bike why would put up a stock photo wen there could be loads of that model of bike knocking around no picture /serial number but look out for that model

Chuchote · 27-04-2017 11:43AM

jacob2 wrote: »

if u havent a picture of your bike why would put up a stock photo wen there could be loads of that model of bike knocking around no picture /serial number but look out for that model

As far as I remember, the advice for this thread is not to put up a serial number publicly.

micar · 27-04-2017 08:40PM

Saw an fairly new looking orange cube mountain bike with a puchered rear tyre being wheel but 2 kids in grey tracksuits near Christchurch today around 4.50.

Mellor · 28-04-2017 06:35AM

jacob2 wrote: »

if u havent a picture of your bike why would put up a stock photo wen there could be loads of that model of bike knocking around no picture /serial number but look out for that model

If he had a picture of his exact bike you still wouldn't be able to read the serial number.

And it would likely be indistinguishable (in a photo) from others that are the same model.

MacG14 · 28-04-2017 11:43PM

Stolen Specialized Sworks Epic World Cup 29er, Size large
Stolen from basement car park in Ringsend, Dublin on Monday 17.4.17

Full Suspension carbon frame mountain bike
Sram xx1 1*11 drivetrain
xtr brakes
Rockshock sid brain forks.
White specialized saddle
Carbon seatpost and bars
Training wheels were on it: Stans arch rear & American classic front.
Please keep an eye out for this & let me know if u see it around, thanks
Reward offered for return of this bike.

MacG14 · 29-04-2017 12:14AM

AndrewJRenko · 30-04-2017 10:08AM

Chuchote wrote: »

As far as I remember, the advice for this thread is not to put up a serial number publicly.

If the donedeals and adverts sites could be persuaded to insist on requiring a serial number in photo and text form on all bike-for-sale ads, it would eliminate these as channels for stolen goods overnight. Anyone who had their bike stolen would just need to set up an automatic search for their own serial number to find it.

LollipopJimmy · 30-04-2017 10:18AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

If the donedeals and adverts sites could be persuaded to insist on requiring a serial number in photo and text form on all bike-for-sale ads, it would eliminate these as channels for stolen goods overnight. Anyone who had their bike stolen would just need to set up an automatic search for their own serial number to find it.

The for sale groups on FB are where a lot of items are being sold. I sold some stuff online recently and it was all gone in a matter of hours through them

Trekker09 · 30-04-2017 10:43AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

If the donedeals and adverts sites could be persuaded to insist on requiring a serial number in photo and text form on all bike-for-sale ads, it would eliminate these as channels for stolen goods overnight. Anyone who had their bike stolen would just need to set up an automatic search for their own serial number to find it.

True, but I reckon a lot of top end bikes are dismantled and sold as parts

Chuchote · 01-05-2017 08:23AM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

If the donedeals and adverts sites could be persuaded to insist on requiring a serial number in photo and text form on all bike-for-sale ads, it would eliminate these as channels for stolen goods overnight. Anyone who had their bike stolen would just need to set up an automatic search for their own serial number to find it.

Not to mention they should have to insist on a receipt (with name and address blanked out) being part of the ads.

Trekker09 wrote: »

True, but I reckon a lot of top end bikes are dismantled and sold as parts

I doubt it.

iwillhtfu · 01-05-2017 08:42AM

Chuchote wrote: »

Not to mention they should have to insist on a receipt (with name and address blanked out) being part of the ads.

In an ideal world maybe but in reality it would never work and be a silly rule.

I've built up and sold several bikes over the years. Usually with parts I've picked up along the way. It could be argued they the frame number only guarantees the grand is yours. Until manufacturers mark individual components which will never happen and have a data base of bought/sold/traded/dumped bikes and components bike theft is near impossible to stamp out.

magicbastarder · 01-05-2017 09:09AM

i have three bikes, all fully legally owned. i don't have receipts for any of them; two were bought over 12 years ago and i've moved house three times since and couldn't tell you where the receipts are, and the third was bought secondhand.

Mellor · 01-05-2017 10:37AM

There's a big difference between including a receipt where you have one. And requiring a original receipt to sell something 2nd hand.

The former is sensible, the latter a bit ridiculous

Chuchote · 01-05-2017 11:04AM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i have three bikes, all fully legally owned. i don't have receipts for any of them; two were bought over 12 years ago and i've moved house three times since and couldn't tell you where the receipts are, and the third was bought secondhand.

It's a question of efficiency. If you buy something for several hundred euro, any normally efficient person will file the receipt where it can be found.

Also, may I suggest that people who lose or don't keep the receipts at the moment do so because they think the receipt is not going to be of further use. If it were necessary for selling on the bike, as a logbook is for a car, they'd make damn sure to keep them carefully filed!

Mellor · 01-05-2017 11:29AM

Chuchote wrote: »

It's a question of efficiency. If you buy something for several hundred euro, any normally efficient person will file the receipt where it can be found.

I'd expect it from somebody who keeps fastidious records.
But I'm not sure it's efficient, as it doesn't increase productivity or reduce work.

I keep receipts for big items as it acts as a sort of warranty. But I clear out old receipts when the warranty period passes. It's A bit anal to keep every recipet to have for 10 years or more.

Also, may I suggest that people who lose or don't keep the receipts at the moment do so because they think the receipt is not going to be of further use. If it were necessary for selling on the bike, as a logbook is for a car, they'd make damn sure to keep them carefully filed!

Yeah of course, IF they were necessary more people would keep them.
But they aren't necessary, so...

cython · 01-05-2017 11:51AM

Mellor wrote: »

I'd expect it from somebody who keeps fastidious records.
But I'm not sure it's efficient, as it doesn't increase productivity or reduce work.

I keep receipts for big items as it acts as a sort of warranty. But I clear out old receipts when the warranty period passes. It's A bit anal to keep every recipet to have for 10 years or more.

Speaking of warranty, given that a lot of cyclists may actually have a relationship with the shop where they bought the bike, they may not even need the receipt for warranty, as the LBS may know/have their own records of when the bike was bought.

Mellor wrote: »

Yeah of course, IF they were necessary more people would keep them.
But they aren't necessary, so...

There's also the issue that under BTW, since the employer buys the bike and gives it to the employee, it is perfectly reasonable that the employee may not actually have a receipt, as they did not purchase. In some multinationals trying to get a copy of same from the accounts department would be a fools errand for the purposes of a potential second hand sale.

Chuchote · 01-05-2017 12:04PM

cython wrote: »

Speaking of warranty, given that a lot of cyclists may actually have a relationship with the shop where they bought the bike, they may not even need the receipt for warranty, as the LBS may know/have their own records of when the bike was bought.

There's also the issue that under BTW, since the employer buys the bike and gives it to the employee, it is perfectly reasonable that the employee may not actually have a receipt, as they did not purchase. In some multinationals trying to get a copy of same from the accounts department would be a fools errand for the purposes of a potential second hand sale.

Well, not really. You go to the shop where you got it and tell them the date and the prize and produce the bike, and ask for a duplicate receipt. #shrug

When I bought my last bike I was given a receipt (by email) and asked for a receipt with the frame number on it, and was sent that, also by email.

However, receipts may not be necessary when SigFox developers get their thumb out and invent a tracker that's small enough for feasible use on bicycles.

Kaisr Sose · 01-05-2017 01:14PM

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

If the donedeals and adverts sites could be persuaded to insist on requiring a serial number in photo and text form on all bike-for-sale ads, it would eliminate these as channels for stolen goods overnight. Anyone who had their bike stolen would just need to set up an automatic search for their own serial number to find it.

And what if they put up a made up serial number and how can portal verify the serial number and bike match? There is no official database of these.

The anonymity of these sites is the big draw for those selling stolen goods. If a seller had to register with official ID, their anonymity would go overnight. This is probably far from a perfect solution (argument for/against national IDcard etc) but it's a start.

Trekker09 · 01-05-2017 02:19PM

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

And what if they put up a made up serial number and how can portal verify the serial number and bike match? There is no official database of these.

The anonymity of these sites is the big draw for those selling stolen goods. If a seller had to register with official ID, their anonymity would go overnight. This is probably far from a perfect solution (argument for/against national IDcard etc) but it's a start.

t would be ideal if we could check serial numbers on a database like Cartel.ie

magicbastarder · 01-05-2017 02:35PM

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

If a seller had to register with official ID, their anonymity would go overnight. This is probably far from a perfect solution (argument for/against national IDcard etc) but it's a start.

yeah, how do you define an 'official ID'? though i'd say that it could be possible to add a 'premium seller' option to adverts, where you register your ID - with credit card details perhaps - with adverts. they may be a bit shy on that lest they get caught up in disputes that aren't actually related to stolen goods, per se.

magicbastarder · 01-05-2017 02:45PM

Trekker09 wrote: »

t would be ideal if we could check serial numbers on a database like Cartel.ie

i'm just trying to think of a way a bike shop could offer some sort of escrow service - either financially or physically, but it seems awkward.

Kaisr Sose · 01-05-2017 03:55PM

Trekker09 wrote: »

t would be ideal if we could check serial numbers on a database like Cartel.ie

Back door to a registration for a cycle tax...:D

Joking aside, Cartel.ie exists because of a requirement to register and certify cars for use on roads. No such scheme exists and it if did, somebody would pay for it and that would be those owning cycles..

Kaisr Sose · 01-05-2017 04:12PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

yeah, how do you define an 'official ID'? though i'd say that it could be possible to add a 'premium seller' option to adverts, where you register your ID - with credit card details perhaps - with adverts. they may be a bit shy on that lest they get caught up in disputes that aren't actually related to stolen goods, per se.

I already said what thought it should be. Official National ID and mandatory carrying of it, is something we don't have in this country. The nearest we have is the Public Service Card, but it's only mandatory for new applicants for PPS no's and not mandatory to carry. Drivers Licence and passport are not mandatory to have so people can claim not to have them.

Credit card is not ID as it can be shared and is not photo or centrally registered. No portal is going to want to get involved in storing cc details on top of passwords and other personal data and I for one would not be keen on giving my cc to adverts or done deal.

The State has some role in protecting its citizens from fraud and making it more difficult for fraudsters and thiefs to con unsuspecting people and thus harder to profit from their illegal enterprises.

AndrewJRenko · 01-05-2017 10:21PM

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

And what if they put up a made up serial number and how can portal verify the serial number and bike match? There is no official database of these.

The buyer would need to match the quoted serial number against what they actually find on the bike. If they don't match, it is clearly a stolen bike.

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

The anonymity of these sites is the big draw for those selling stolen goods. If a seller had to register with official ID, their anonymity would go overnight. This is probably far from a perfect solution (argument for/against national IDcard etc) but it's a start.

They could have some kind of graded solution that if you want to sell more than x number of bikes each year, then you need to provide ID. I've sold three bikes in the last 10 years, so there is probably no need for me to be providing ID. But if I'm selling a bike or two every week, then ID should be required.

Chuchote · 02-05-2017 07:51PM

magicbastarder wrote: »

i'm just trying to think of a way a bike shop could offer some sort of escrow service - either financially or physically, but it seems awkward.

PayPal seem to manage it.

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

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