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I posted as stolen on stolen-bikes.co.uk in 2019 and it has appeared for sale in the last few days on a Polish ebay/ Gumtree type site along with 3 other reasonably high value bikes by a poster who joined in the last few days.
What can I do?
Realistically I expect nothing but I can say with 100% certainty that the bike is mine.
I do not have any police tags or frame number like an idiot, but even 3 years after the theft, every single component is the same, every single customisation and bit of tape is the same and there will be my initials painted inside the BB shell.
I have an original crime number but at the time of the theft it was a case of no CCTV or suspect- no action.
The Polish police have said to report the bike resurfacing to the British police which I have just done. Will any GAS or will that information then be passed over to the Polish Police again? Doubtful
I always felt the theft was targeted as only the Santa Cruz was stolen and my wife's bike and my road bike with less sexy branding (but equally high spec and value) were left. The fact it looks completely unused in the last 3 years, everything is exactly as I left and the seller has new membership on the site and only lists 4 decent value bikes suggests it is still in the hands of someone shady rather than a poor unsuspecting person who bought it in good faith. Point of that is I'm not sure I fancy a trip to Poland with Bombers in hand. It also fits a pattern of organised bike thefts in the area where tons of Santa Cruz's went missing with other bikes also being left at the same time and shipping abroad is a classic.
I am a bit reluctant to post specifics in case that scares the seller off, but what more can I do? It would be awesome to get the bike back even if only for the satisfaction of the thieving knob-heads not getting away with such an easy crime
Was it insured and did you get an insurance pay out to allow you to replace it? If so, nothing you need to do as it is no longer your issue...however, it might be worth flagging to police and insurance that is is being advertised on mainland Europe (and I suspect you'll be told there is nothing they can do now as it isn't in the jurisdiction (or however that is spelt!)).
If you didn't get an insurance payout for it and you have some spare time...arrange to view it and take a trip over with some mates and see if you can get it back.
Is it related to this?
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/stolen-stooge-in-poland/
I'm not sure I would be knocking on the door of what sounds like a fairly organised network of international bike thieves, even if it was local, let alone on the other side of Europe.
arrange to view it and take a trip over with some mates and see if you can get it back.
I’d not want to be messing with organised crims who know where I live, but that’s just me.
Was it insured and did you get an insurance pay out to allow you to replace it?
No insurance or payout as I was (more) skint at the time and never has any cause for concern so no insurance. I learnt that one the hard way.
The style of the Stooge post is really similar, on the same site with the same kind of angles of pics. Different area of Poland but I would imagine a dodgy seller wouldn't give a real address.
I’m not sure I would be knocking on the door of what sounds like a fairly organised network of international bike thieves, even if it was local, let alone on the other side of Europe.
Yes indeed!
Realistically I think reporting this advert to the British Police is all I can do but if anyone has any other ideas on what to do if stolen property pops up in another country then I am all ears
I was hoping for the 'it was insured and I got a payout' response...in which case, it is a tough choice - one option is my flippant remark to go pay them a visit (I agree with everyone else who suggest that isn't sensible); you could start noising up the police and see if they will start doing something; you could try and ignore it (which won't be easy).
It sounds stupid but the theft really messed with my wife and little one in particular who spotted the garage completely smashed in when heading off to school. I have moved on from the bike (I mean what 2019 standards would useful on a bike today! 😉 ) but it would be lovely to contribute something to stop this happening to others
If it’s between Krakow and Ukraine I could pop in on him next week. Unfortunately I only have some Rebas so I won’t be owning him.
I’m not sure I would be knocking on the door of what sounds like a fairly organised network of international bike thieves, even if it was local, let alone on the other side of Europe.
Would he know its you though?
Brit on holiday shows up to look at it, and then buggers off with it.
He wouldn't know you were the rightful owner.
^ The way that plan works out nicely is
a) Meeting up with them and if shady I am sure they would prefer distance selling, possibly even scamming the money and never delivering
b) Handing over money for the privilege of buggering off with my own bike (£1250 asking price for a 2019 rigid SS which isn't worth it on top of time/ travel/ etc)
An organised buy with the police on hand would be nice and I think people have had some success with that over here but you would need a load of evidence of something bigger to make it worth anyone's time
How did you manage to spot it advertised in Poland?
^ Reply to my old post on stolen-bikes.co.uk
I had a few replies over the past 3 years but it was never my bike until the one spotted today by someone. I haven't contacted that person yet
Well... if you're willing to buy it back from the "seller" then you should find someone willing to help in Poland and just do it without mentioning any theft, but is seems like you are more interested in getting those bastards into trouble rather than getting back your bike (and I totally understand this) so go for the police. It will last few months at least, and try to find someone speaking polish to deal with all the papers and letters, because paperwork between policemen can get pretty mental pretty fast.
Fingers crossed you succeed 🙂
I will try to get back the mentioned Stooge this saturday and return it to the rightful owner by buying it back, so wish me luck!
It would be awesome to get the bike back even if only for the satisfaction of the thieving knob-heads not getting away with such an easy crime
After three years?
It's probably changed hands a few times, there's no guarantee that Poland was the first country it went to after it was stolen.
Report it, flag it up wherever you can, but don't hold your breath for a result or anyone getting charged with anything...
Definitely report it. There’s a specialist bike-theft unit in every UK police force. They’ll board their blacked -out Osprey first thing tomorrow morning, fly to Poland, hedge hopping to avoid radar, armed to the teeth, and show those bike thieves what’s what. You’ll have your bikes back before tea.
Hurrah!
British Police- thank you for the information we'll add it to the original crime report.
Polish Police- don't worry, we'll track that down and if the person can't produce receipts for everything they are going to have a night in the cells at the very least and really shit him up*
Both responses probably amount to sweet FA but interesting differences in approach 😀
*no joke
I much prefer the Polish response...I'm obviously rather soft as the night in the cells really doesn't appeal to me, so it would definitely have me sweating a bit.
I much prefer the Polish response
Sure, in this case, but that's the Polish police reaction to everything regardless...Seeing your bike pop up in an advert like this is perhaps worse than it being stolen in the first place."There it is!" "How can I get it back?" It must like mourning its loss all over again. Sorry OP, must be crap.
Would bike theft really be in the scale of moving a £2k bike over seas ?
That’s a lot of expense to sell a relatively low value product
Plus the fact the brakes would be on the wrong side
Just appears odd to me
Would bike theft really be in the scale of moving a £2k bike over seas ?
Even on its own, I dont think a £2000 bike is low value at all!
And the thing is, it wont be on its own, will it.
Transit Van full of them, on the ferry from the UK to Poland... course its worth it, thats why they are doing it!
^ You also have to remember that the asking price on this Polish site is a decent month's wages in Poland
The fact is reappeared and is near impossible to get back is definitely a kick in the nads all over again.
Plan is to give the Polish police everything I have and see what they come up with. British police said their attack helo is being serviced today so they can't help
arrange to view it and take a trip over with some mates and see if you can get it back.
I’d not want to be messing with organised crims who know where I live, but that’s just me.
Don't tell them where you live then. I'd be doing what I can to get it back. Or arrange a viewing, act like a noob and pretend you don't much about bikes. Ask if you can go for a short ride with them. Wobble about a bit and pretend to be out of breath. Then sprint off.
Or since its eBay, buy it and say it never turned up. EBay will side with you and make them refund you.
The law enforcement route might be tricky and long. Since Brexit, we don't have the agreements in place to access shared data between UK and EU police quite so readily as before. I shit you not. Mrs E-20 is part of the project team tackled with untangling this unholy mess.
Cross continental bike crime will be way down the list unfortunately but if locals can help you out that might be the only option you have if you're keen to get it back.
The internet hero’s on this thread are outstanding. Guaranteed that you’d arrive , they wouldn’t speak a word of English (even if they’re fluent) and you’d be instantly ****ed
How did you contact Polish police btw?
I phoned the local police station to where the advert says the bike is located. This seemed to be the better route than a generic national contact number and they seemed positive about helping. Having a Polish speaker this end was the key part.
Was it insured and did you get an insurance pay out to allow you to replace it? If so, nothing you need to do as it is no longer your issue
Totally don't understand this sort of attitude, just weird.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
I agree, however, if it had been insured and the insurance had paid out then the item is no longer your item...so plenty you could/can/should do, but none of it is to reclaim your item as it is no longer that.
Calling police and the local police is good.
The original post was suggestion to me that he was looking for things to do to get his bike back, so I asked if it had been insured and payment received as that could/should/would change why what could be done.
I'm all for stopping crime and aiding the prevention and it sounds like steps have been taken to aid that.
The bike has been located and the Polish Police have taken a look at it in person but lack the know how to identify the frame (inside the BB).
If anyone is local to Gorzow Wielkopolski and has a HTII bottom bracket tool and fancies a ton of good karma then please feel free to get in touch 🙂
I agree, however, if it had been insured and the insurance had paid out then the item is no longer your item…so plenty you could/can/should do, but none of it is to reclaim your item as it is no longer that.
Well, maybe. But (speaking as someone who's been the victim of bike theft) a stolen bike that I built, personalised, rode and loved still feels like mine. It's definitely more 'mine' than anyone else's, and infinitely more 'mine' than 'theirs'. Getting the bike back after several years would be a great feeling.
At any rate, can we just agree that the thieves should be relieved of the bike, if only to dissuade any future antics? The recovered bikes could go to charity I suppose.
EDIT: Good luck to OP. I bet the bike will disappear sharpish after the police visit 🙁
Another idea is if anyone can identify the other bikes as stolen more easily than mine (eg more visible frame numbers) then that would help the police at least confiscate the lot. No suggestion all are stolen but you never know.
https://www.olx.pl/oferty/uzytkownik/1et4Nv/