A Portsmouth cyclist has told road.cc how he had three bikes stolen – including a Trek Madone SL6 worth over £3,000 – from his home after falling victim to a Facebook Marketplace scam.
The cyclist, Kevin, listed his Eddy Merckx EM525 Endurance bike for sale on Facebook Marketplace for £1,695, alongside a pair of car headlamps for £60.
Kevin explained that he first received a message about the bike at around 8pm, with a potential buyer asking about sizing and whether it was available to “try”, something he said he “found a little odd”.
In response, he offered more detailed size specification, but tried to remain vague.
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Later that evening, he received a separate message about the headlamps. The prospective buyer claimed to be local, and sent a picture of his car. He said he urgently needed the parts and could collect immediately.
“I was a lifesaver apparently,” Kevin added.
As he was out at the time, Kevin explained that the following day was the earliest he could sell the headlamps. During the conversation, he shared his address with the buyer.
“He then gave me his local address and asked for mine, sadly I obliged.”
Just four hours later, at 1am, thieves broke into his summer house and stole his EM525, his new Trek Madone, and a Cube Attain.
They reportedly came over three neighbouring gardens and scaled several seven-foot fences to gain access.
> Scam victims warn cyclists of component and groupset deals on Facebook Marketplace
Kevin lives in a mid-terrace with no side or rear access, and found out the route from neighbour’s ring cameras, showing two people in balaclavas.
He added that “police were pretty good and came round and carried out forensics”.
After his post on Facebook, he explains that “this is an established theft routine”.
He adds that “no matter what security was in place, they were well equipped to get in and get out. They departed via a different route, and I believe they had a van waiting for them.”
“I want to warn others to stay vigilant – these scams are getting more convincing and sophisticated.”
Unfortunately, the bikes were not covered under his home insurance for theft. Kevin explained that he had lived in his home for 25 years “and never had any security concerns for the rear of my home.”
A keen cyclist since 2010, Kevin rides around 4,000 miles a year with a small group of friends. In 2025, he completed a self-supported trip through the Alps, which had prompted him to upgrade to the Trek Madone.
He is also due to ride the Col du Tourmalet, one of the Tour de France’s most iconic climbs, in September, but says that for now, “I only have the wife’s shopper bike to train on.”
The stolen bikes include a 2020 Eddy Merckx EM525 Endurance in matt grey with Ultegra Di2, a red 2025 Trek Madone SL6 Gen 8 fitted with new Pirelli tan-wall 30mm tyres, and a 2016 Cube Attain with mudguards.
Following the theft, Kevin says he has increased security at his home with cameras, alarms and locks.
13 thoughts on “Three bikes worth thousands stolen in Facebook Marketplace scam after cyclist tries to sell £60 car lights, allowing thieves to obtain address”
Sympathies to Kevin. Never, ever let a potential buyer know when you won’t be home; I always ask what time would suit them and if I won’t be home I’ll say I’ve got friends round at that time or I’ll be in a Zoom meeting, anything that gives the impression the house won’t be unoccupied. Alternatively, when I went to buy a secondhand computer recently the seller gave me an address near her home and asked me to go to it and call her from there and only then did she give me the exact address. The other thing I would say is avoid Facebook marketplace, it’s just full of stolen gear, especially bikes. eBay charges very little these days and you’ve got a lot of peace of mind as both buyer and seller.
Not trying to be wise after the event, just sharing a couple of things I’ve found useful!
@Rendel Harris Well, you certainly have a lot of protection as a *buyer* on ebay. As a seller you’re operating 100% on trust because ebay WILL side with a buyer if they open a dispute with you no matter how farcical their reasoning and no matter how much proof you can provide that you fulfilled all your obligations. Sure if any single account racks up too many claims against sellers they become a little more discerning, but scammers just make new accounts continually so they never trigger that threshhold.
I sold a bunch of out of print nerd books on ebay last year and 3 sold as a group “never arrived”, which ebay happily agreed with and stole back their money for them despite me having proof of delivery from the courier with both signature and photo of the parcel literally being *handed over* to a person at the proper address. Ebay’s suggestion? Take it up with the courier, who of course told me to jog on because they did the delivery properly.
My recommendation is to use marketplace if you’re a seller, set meetings at places other than your home, and either be a big imposing bloke or take one with you. Selling on ebay is for mugs.
@yodhrin Sorry to hear your experience, I can only say that it’s worked very well for me. Maybe because I very rarely offer postage, usually if I’m selling it’s either a bike or a guitar so the buyers have to come to collect and give me their collection code from eBay to prove that they have done so.
PS Yes it’s not a bad idea to arrange collection/viewing points away from your home but that does exclude quite a number of buyers like me who won’t consider buying a bike unless the seller has a home or workplace meeting point, as soon as the seller tells me they want to meet outside Brixton bus garage or similar I’m out, partly because I don’t want to buy anything that looks like it’s stolen and also because I don’t want to turn up, as some unfortunates have, to find ne’er-do-wells waiting to take the cash without providing any merchandise.
I had a bike stolen yesterday again Facebook marketplace linked to a sale. Checking motor out so he said and off he went leaving his phone as collateral. Its with Surrey Police but he didn’t look like he knew bikes and did mention Trek Madone to me.
Stay vigilant. Facebook is dangerous. Last price is the dangerous phrase to listen out for.
Surrey is very popular for bike theft. Im near Teddington and the weekend the bikes on tbe road just so nice but like between 1000 to 15000 easy and yet I have seen rider go in a coffee shop not locked bike cos lock is weight but be sorry when lose a expensive bike for a 3.50 coffee..
We need to start using tracking system now the trackers so small can fit in. Frame and best not put sticker saying tracked . Might find load of bikes and person that is buying the high end bikes cos its someone that k ows their bikes for sure !!!
Hope ya get it back
@jenzo A while ago I was waiting for my mate and watching our bikes outside the Portakabin lavatories at Roehampton gate in Richmond Park. A youngish chap rode up on an S-works Tarmac SL8, which I believe run well into five figures even before adding in his £500 Garmin, £250 Varia radar and £250 GoPro. As he leaned it against the fence and started towards the lavatories I said, “I should take that in with you mate, there’s a lot of thieving round here.” He just laughed and said, “You’re the only one here and you’ve got your own bike.” True, but although my bike was around £4000 new I paid £700 for it secondhand…I could so easily have just ridden off on his bike and thrown mine in the bushes to collect later. Being a generally honest sort of cove I didn’t, of course (in fact I not only didn’t but waited until he came back out to make sure nobody else did), but it’s astonishing how blasé some riders in the area seem to be about their bike security.
Or hidden his in the bushes to make a point. 😉
@mdavidford If he hadn’t been a good thirty years younger than me and five inches taller, maybe…
I am discusted bike stealing should be taken more seriously by the courts i had my last stolen after trying to help a man after he had fallen into the road and badly hurt in rustington near chichester i am sure the man opposite in the road took it when i was giveing first aid to the elderly old man i had only had the bike 5 weeks after a heart attack and cost over £3000
Never trust FB Market mostly scams set up nice car or bike and know you be carrying money. And sorry lost the 3 bikes but with them sort of bikes why not go to a shop. Most High end bike shops like my local is Sigma Sports will help selling. And please ppl keep all high stuff out sight dont show around house and if they ask go take pictures of stuff inside its cos looking at background doors windows locks..
But the high end bike lot is great community so hopefully someone will see them. Lost my Carbon GT Elite 2yrs put on stolen bike site but nothing. Most time the 1s nicking it dont know the worth of bike just go by name and looks and sell for 100 150 quid sad
I’ve started donating any bikes and stuff to a place that upcycles them. I obviously don’t get any money but avoid the risks of ‘buyers’ and get the good feeling of helping others. Have even seen my old bike about the place. I recommend doing this. Also avoids tech billionaires making another few coins off me.
“He then gave me his local address and asked for mine, sadly I obliged.”
I hate to say it. But this is where you messed up.
Back in the days when I bought and sold things on the likes of Ebay and GUMTREE. I NEVER gave out my home address.
Any business transactions would always be done at least an hour away from my home.
If they asked for my address – I would refuse and if they kept asking for it. I would block/ignore them.
Either they meet me at the agreed time and place (a public space in a busy part of town) or we dont do business.
It doesnt matter to me if the guy is local and thus convenient for both of us. I have to protect my privacy, myself/my family and my home.
Only give your address to family, friends or people youre super super close with and trusted businesses if they need it.