What happens if you accidentally buy a stolen bike?
There is a legal term called bona fide purchaser for value without notice. You purchased the bike without the belief it was stolen and you paid for it, it is your property now. It is possible the person you spoke with was not a police officer, or that they did not know that you purchased a bike that was unregistered.
Is the bike I just bought stolen?
Check the serial number
The serial number can be checked within databases like Bike Index or Bike Register, so if the bike has been registered as stolen you can then take steps to involve the police. If the serial number has been filed off or covered in any way, this is also a sure sign that the bike was stolen.
How do you prove a stolen bike is yours?
Record your serial number and place it in the file. Other documentation in the file should include a receipt for the bike. Even if you are buying a used bike, ask for a receipt. If you don’t have a receipt for a bike you already own, repair receipts may serve as evidence of ownership.
How do I register my stolen bike?
File a police report. If you can, go into your local precinct and make an officer come and take a report. Get them engaged in your situation! Make sure your bike is registered on Bike Index and any local registry in your community that might exist.
How can I find my stolen bike?
Here are some quick and easy tips to track it down:
- Report your bike stolen to the police. …
- Call local bike shops. …
- Visit local markets and impound yards for stolen bikes. …
- Register your bike as stolen on bike recovery sites. …
- Search online marketplaces. …
- Inform your insurance company. …
- Spread the word. …
- Conclusion.
Is Bike register free?
Registration of bicycles is free and bicycle owners can purchase bike marking kits to protect their bicycles from theft.
What do thieves do with stolen bikes?
Thieves strip bikes because the parts (unlike the frames) don’t have serial numbers and can’t be traced as stolen once they are removed from a bike. The parts can be sold individually or put on another stolen bike to disguise it, hence the Frankenstein bikes that show up at the Bike Hut.
Do police still mark bikes?
Police occasionally host their own cycle marking events and will very often apply their own approved markings if requested, so it never hurts to pop into your local station to see if localised schemes are in operation.
Do bikes get stolen often?
Regularly, more than 2 million bikes are stolen each year in North America—meaning every 30 seconds, someone’s ride was going missing. And the problem has only been growing during the coronavirus pandemic, when more people have turned to bicycles as their main mode of transportation.
Is it worth reporting stolen bike?
Whilst only 4% of bikes are recovered, it’s important that the police have accurate figures so they can allocate resources to fight bike crime. In London it may also be worth reporting the theft to the Cycle Task Force. Ideally, attach a picture of your stolen bike.
How do I make sure my second hand bike isn’t stolen?
A good way to do this is by checking the frame number orBikeRegister ID’sfree BikeChecker facility on the BikeRegister database to make sure that the bike is not listed as stolen. Alternatively, ask for any proof of purchase if the bike is relatively new.