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I've got my eyes on a bike I suspect may be stolen. It has a name sticker on it, but part of it is missing
I've got 'Les Boxa..." Then possibly an L then the rest is missing.
Anybody know anybody?
I may be well wide of the mark, if so I apologise. But it's better to ask I think.
Good work jambo, presumably in the right area too PP ?
Yup. Need to contact him...
5th hit on google for les boxall. just below this thread.
just call me sherlock...
Keep us posted on the outcome 🙂
I've posted a comment on one of his rides with my number, is there any other way of contacting him at all?
See facebook link above ^^^
He's not very active on facebook, but I've sent a friend request.
Nice work JamBo, thanks. 🙂
Time is'nt on my side here. I've got his address but no phone number and it seems he logs his rides with a Garmin so he may well not have a smartphone to give him notification of my message.
I need a phone number but he's ex-directory
He seems to ride with a club called Alton CC - worth contacting them? Or post on one of his contacts' rides if one of them uses a smartphone to log rides?
Quick ring around the LBS in his area?
RM.
He's a member of Alton Cycling Club from his Strava pic + some googling. I've sent them a tweet asking for contact details.
Linkedin?
It's an unusual enough name that you should be able to identify where he works.
Google the number for the main reception and ask to be put through to him directly or get a work email address?
Edit :
Ony two. One in Glasgow.
Other one is Technical Support Manager at COFELY UK - GDF SUEZ GROUP
Guildford, United Kingdom?Airlines/Aviation.
Les Boxall, Alton CC/Owens Cycles
Try Owens Cycles ?
Try Owens Cycles ?
Bingo.
I have just spoken to Mr Boxall. The bike should still be in his shed, he's away on business I believe.
Result.
Thanks everyone for your help, have a virtual beer and a pat on the back from me! 🙂
Bravo!
🙂
So , where did you see the bike and what happens to it now?
We need a webcam for when the police/scrote come to pick it up from the shop at the same time.
So , where did you see the bike and what happens to it now?
It was brought into our shop for repair. It's still here, the owner will hopfully collect later this week.
I'm being sparse on details here for obvious reasons.
[img] https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRNA_rxlNpBtDLXve2KgC0PbnULCWGsf3xNT6gG36hzGkbCb3DfWQ [/img]
Top Miss Marple-ing.
Huzzah!
[img][url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/16034101038_d7ddf0a29d.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/16034101038_d7ddf0a29d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qqSXBU ]Bro fist[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/126516346@N08/ ]Phillip Dalton[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The power of the Internet used for good purposes! What made you suspect it was dodgy?
Do you want a job?
As what...?
good effort Mr Poddy 🙂
Good job Peter P
Nice one.
Result
Somewhere on Mumsnet:
AIBU?
I took my DH's bike into the shop to get it all set up nicely for when he get's back, he works away from home so doesn't get much time to ride and I wanted it to be ready for him as a surprise.
The bike shop accused me of stealing it and now I'm locked up, HELP!
Poddy couldnt afford the pay cut
I've had enough of those, true enough!
Somewhere on Mumsnet:
Err no....
Somewhere on DruggiesNet, yeah maybe. (Alledgely)
That's part of why we need shops - can't get that kind of service from CRC or Wiggle 🙂
Nice job.
Excellent. Well done PP
Nice one PeterPoddy, good effort! 😀
he he. Well done Pete 😀
New forum name : PeterPloddy
Somewhere on Mumsnet:
Somewhere on DruggiesNet, yeah maybe. (Allegedly)
Same thing.
COME AT ME MOTHERS!
Hmmm...mumsnet....I wonder if Les Boxall was the bloke who bought himself a new road bike and foolishly left it in the conservatory, and the indignant Mrs B is getting it prepped for eBay?
It will be interesting to see how the police respond to this.
I won't hold my breath.
COME AT ME MOTHERS!
I believe such material is available on the interwebz.
PP, good on you! Had a few of those while running bike shops years ago. 'Customer' brought in a very distinctive bike which we knew belonged to a real customer. 'Customer' said the brakes were rubbing. Usually a shop floor tweak, but no. We'll just take it out back to the mechanics. Behind a locked door.
Call real customer, "Andy, where's your bike?.....Stolen, you say?....Well, guess what?"
Call local police station, v good customers, ask them on pop over.
Tell "customer" it'll just be a minute or two.
"You're knicked, sunshine!"
Felt great.
Brilliant work PP
Well done... upload web cam video on to YouTube please 😀
bravo.
I've been lucky enough to be able to do similar in the past. Sat in a shop and saw a gang of teenagers walk by, with one really nice BMX between them. Gangs of kids like this mob (they were not skaters or BMXers) DO NOT EVER ride really nice BMXs and I thought I recognised it from the local skate park. Called police and stayed on the phone as I followed them up the road at a distance. Watch police pull up and pick up the bike and one of the kids. Pop round the skate park, ask a couple of guys, they say one of their mates was robbed of his bike a few days earlier, I tell them to call him up and then call up xxx police station to go get the bike.
TLDR - sometimes you KNOW a bike is nicked.
sometimes you KNOW a bike is nicked.
To be fair this wasn't a tricky one to spot. The only question was if he'd sold it with his name sticker still on it or not.
Long story short, but he wasn't even aware it was missing.
I've seen a couple of obviously nicked bikes in the past, but been unable to get them 'in the workshop' to sort it out.
When you see him, teach him how to set security zones in Strava too - you can see which shed he 'lost' it from!
Top work PP (and CaptainFlashheart). Good to hear a happy outcome when I see so many stolen bike posts.
Gangs of kids like this mob (they were not skaters or BMXers) DO NOT EVER ride really nice BMXs and I thought I recognised it from the local skate park. Called police and stayed on the phone as I followed them up the road at a distance. Watch police pull up and pick up the bike and one of the kid
Where the **** do you live that the police will respond to a report of kids with a bmx?
Top work, great result PP.
Sometimes you just know its not right!
Where the **** do you live that the police will respond to a report of kids with a bmx?
That was when I lived in east london believe it or not! I was adamant it was nicked and they bought it!
I have alternative experiences of the police in east london.
(1) They basically told me that I shouldn't have bothered reporting a theft because I was pissed and there was no way they'd be finding evidence so it was simply my pissed word against someone else's.
(2) A bloke crashes into my legally parked car on a quiet side street and drives off at speed with smoke pouring from his car. The police told me that I couldn't report him for fleeing the scene of an accident because I didn't know that he wasn't planning on coming back. The car was a write-off (the street was narrow with cars parked down both sides and speed bumps every 30 yards!)
Awesome work OP. Nice one! 🙂
A local bike shop to me had a mechanic that took in a stolen specialized frame that they knew was stolen and the boss knew and didn't seem to care as the BB she'll had had the number ground off. It wasn't till I see it and grabbed it and let my mate Stewart know that they seemed to show any remorse (scared at what would happen next). I would name and shame but it would cause no end of back lash as that shop has a bat shit crazy owner
Superb work there PP. Why would a bike thief bring a bike in for repairs at their expense at a legit shop??. Daft idea. Is the customer the new in his/her eyes the legal owner and innocent in this and is about to be out of pocket and some what embarrassed.
How did this story turn out?
bump.
Has Les got his bike back ? Any perp been accosted ?
Right, probably the last update as I don't work in that shop anymore....
I met Les and we confirmed it was his bike. The cops are involved and seem interested in doing something about it, they have my contact details and the officer I spoke to was impressed with 'our' detective skills.
The lad that dropped it off came back and seemed miffed. He blamed his mate. His mate then came in and sort of shrugged and said words to the effect of 'we f***ed up then I guess' and left. It looks like it's been sold on a few times but they knew it was nicked, no doubt. At least it's not trashed and Les gets his bike back.
Unfortunately the shop CCTV isn't working. Yes that's epically stupid I know.