Edinburgh cyclist meets man trying to sell his stolen bike – and shops him to police

I once had a bike stolen and I ended up stealing it back. The guy rode past the bike shop I was working in at the time, I clocked him and legged it after him down the road. He left it unlocked outside a papershop so I took it back and rode off.

The policy rang me about an hour later asking if I'd got my bike back to which I said yes, they came over & had a look and closed the file.

Turns out the guy had bought it from another guy in a pub who was up to his eyes in debt so started stealing stuff to raise money to get himself out of it but I couldn't pursue him as he'd committed suicide a few weeks before! I'm still undecided as to whether that last part is true or whether the police couldn't be arsed to follow it up.

"However, Police Scotland’s advice is for victims of theft to contact them rather than try to take matters into their own hands."
What a joke!

This last week my Road bike was also stolen.
I quickly found the bike on gumtree, a couple of streets away.
Reported to the police.
Got footage of the guy coming in with the cutter, and leaving with the bike.
Got his phone number, location, and a quick facebook search for the phone number gives me his profile.
I exchange a couple of messages with the guy, pretending to be a buyer. The policed asks me not do anything.

Result... after over 1 day, the ad was gone (he sold it).
A few hours later he puts another Ad online for another expensive bike.
Venting I go the police station to complain. Nothing done. They didn't even took note of the new Ad I found. The owner would certainly be reporting it stolen.
New Ad stayed on for 2-3 days, and eventually disappeared too.

Today they finally carried out a search warrant. Nothing was found! Really? I'm so surprised.

Some quick googling shows he's targeting expensive bikes, and he's been making a couple thousands of pounds recently.

Now I'm need to pay 350£ for the insurance excess, plus fixing the shed, etc.

Never seen so much police incompetence. Was just waiting for them to tell me the case was "closed", so now I can file a complaint. Good times.

Way to go David. Should have ignored the police and met the guy.

dont go to the police when you find the pikey who has lifted your property. The police are inept, we caught a gang bang to rights who had been blocking central locking on cars, we had to detain them until the cops got there, then the only bit of justice was one pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods!
catch them and break a piece of them, its rough justice that seems to be the only deterrent.

Same story as many others: I saw my bike on Gumtree less than a week after it was stolen, so told the police, but by the time they got their fingers out it had gone. Then I saw it on eBay. Naively, I did the same - told the police, but the same happened again! Will not be making the same mistake again.

Know of another case recently in Scotland where police dealt efficiently with similar scenario and seller was charged.

I think the most amazing thing about this story, is that the cyclist actually found a Policeman.

If you want your bike back don't involve the police until you've got it in your hands and even then don't let go if they want it as evidence.

A bit naïve, locking the bike by just its front wheel. I always make sure my lock holds both frame and front wheel

I had my bike stolen in Bristol many years ago. It was taken to the shop I'd had it re-enamelled in previously, to sort out some repairs. They recognised it (I'd told them it had been stolen) & informed me, so I told the police. The police said they needed it as evidence and kept it for several months before decidig there was not enough evidence, even for handling stolen property. (The guy who took it in had bought it at a second-hand shop down the road). So I was without it for ages and had to buy another bike to get to work. But at least I did get it back.

Woah. Hold on just one second. Those last couple of comments make it sound for a moment - and this can't possibly be the case - as though Gkam84 is spouting unfounded shite?
Come on lads, use the edit button and take any and all fact out of your responses.

A crime reference is essential if you want to make an insurance claim!

If you report it to the police, you will get a crime reference number, which is as much use as a chocolate fire-guard.

If you see your own bike on gumtree/ebay, get it back yourself, by any means. The police won't even look at at....

Great to hear a happy ending for a change, but it sounds like a fortunate coincidence there was a policeman nearby. When my bike was nicked, the police actually found it on Gumtree shortly afterwards and contacted me, which really impressed me. Unfortunately I was then advised 'off the record' that investigating it would take some paperwork and time, and that if I wanted it back, my best bet was to arrange to meet the seller myself, then call the police to make an arrest. I contacted the seller, he got spooked, my bike got dismantled and the frame turned up and sold on ebay the next day.

Great news! Though the police will often say to contact them instead of 'taking matters into your own hands' but if you do they say they're too busy. Glad it worked out for David!