If you are looking for a new bike, you may be concerned or worried about accidentally picking up a stolen one…
Can you get in trouble for buying a stolen bike?
It’s possible, yes, but a lot will depend on how you got the bike. If the serial number shows that the bike was sported stolen, then technically you could be charged with receiving stolen goods.
That said, if you can prove that you purchased it from a reputable dealer then it’s possible that you will have recourse or that the charges may even be dropped once it has been thoroughly investigated.
This is not a speedy process, though, so it’s best to be very careful when you are purchasing a used bike, and you’ll want to look up the registration number at the very least to protect yourself from this potential scenario.
How do you protect yourself from buying a stolen bike?
The best way to do this is to ask for the serial number of the type, which is typically located on the bottom bracket shell where the pedal cranks meet, just under the frame. If it’s not there, then the rear stays or the headset is the next place to check.
Once you have the number, you can check it in places such as the Bike Register or Bike Index to ensure that the bike has not been stolen. If you find signs that the serial number has been filed off or simply can’t find one at all, then it’s best not to purchase that bike – it might well not be theirs to sell!
What do you do if you find a stolen bike?
If someone steals your bike and you find it being advertised in a local paper or online, do NOT attempt to contact the seller. You’ll want to contact the police immediately. Contacting the seller won’t accomplish anything.
Someone could be using them to sell the bike unawares or if they are the thief, then they’ll simply get rid of the bike before they can be caught with it and charged.
Confronting them in person is also dangerous, so keep your temper in check and call the police right away or even better, go to the police department directly and insist on filling out a report so that you will have a better chance of getting them to follow-up on the tip before the bike is sold and the ‘trail goes cold’.
Do stolen bikes ever get recovered?
Oddly enough, most bike theft never gets reported and this is a bad thing, as statistically about 48% of stolen bikes are eventually recovered by local police departments. Reporting your bike stolen is thus critical if you want any chance of getting it back.
The best practice is to ensure that your bike serial is registered on Bike Register or Bike Index just in case the worst happens and if it does, that you immediately report it. Otherwise, If the police seize your bike during an arrest, they won’t know to contact you to return your stolen property.
Why do thieves steal bikes?
Bikes are often stolen simply for ease and profitability. Cheap locks, parking the bike in places that are not monitored, thin chains, or simply failing to weave the bike chain through the frame of the bike mean that taking the bike is often a quick matter of using bolt cutters to cut the chain and leaving with the bike.
Thicker chains and theft-proof locks can help, but you also want to make sure that you are putting your bike somewhere that is easy to watch, very public, and that you don’t leave it unattended for long periods.
Why do bikes get stolen so often?
There are many reasons why it is easy for thieves to steal bikes/ Thin chains, for instance, mean that a small pair of bolt cutters can easily free a chained bike so that someone can get away with it. Many frames are easy to quickly disassemble and thieves may even do it in public, saying that they lost their key.
Bikes are also easy to get rid of. Thieves will remove the serial numbers or simply trade the bike for another bike or for goods that they can sell more easily. Finally, as most people don’t report when their bike is stolen, thieves have a very low chance of getting caught when stealing them.
Do police investigate stolen bikes?
Yes, police do investigate stolen bikes, and close to half of the bikes reported stolen are eventually identified and returned to their owners. You’ll want to be able to tell them where you left the bike and for how long, and you never know – there might even be local public cams that have footage of the theft.
Most people do NOT report their bikes stolen and this gives thieves more incentive to continue taking them, so if your bike goes missing then the first thing you need to do is report it to the local police. They can help if you will let them.
Is it worth reporting a stolen bike?
Yes, it is worth it to report your bike stolen to the police and it’s vital to do it immediately. The longer you wait, the more chance that local outdoor security cams may overwrite footage of the theft, and also, from an insurance perspective, the sooner you report the theft then the sooner your claim may be processed.
While it’s easy to simply take the loss to avoid the frustration of reporting the theft, almost half of the bikes reported stolen eventually get found by police and returned to their owners, so it’s best to report the theft right away. You might just get your bike back or at the very least, your insurance will process faster.
Can you claim a stolen bike on house insurance?
You’ll need to check your policy, but if the bike was being kept inside of your house when it was stolen, then there is a chance that the household contents portion of your insurance may cover it. Contact your insurance provider and have your policy handy so that you may find out if this is the case.
How do I avoid buying a stolen bike on eBay?
If you are purchasing a used bike on eBay, then there are a few things that you can do to help protect yourself.
The first is to ask for the registration number so that you may look up the bike on Bike Index or Bike Register to see if it matches the description and picture of the bike and that it hasn’t been reported as stolen.
You should also look at the history of the seller. If they’ve been around for many years and have a good rating, then this is a good sign – though you should still look up the registration number.
If the account is only a few weeks old or there are bad or even no ratings listed, and especially if they won’t provide the serial number, it’s best to take your business elsewhere as it might be stolen.