STOLEN: Steel racer, purple, Campag Vento rims

[Andyt]

My bike was stolen between 09:30 and 18:15 on Tuesday 30th September, from our office car park in
Paddington, London W2.

Just putting the word out, and reminding you lot that bikes are never safe, even when locked and
there are 2 CCTV cameras and a 24 hour 'security' guard.

Frame Reynolds steel, very thin tubing, purple, a few rust spots

Cranks Shimano Tiagra (left), Shimano 105 (right)

Brakes Shimano 105 cantilever

Wheels Campagnolo Vento deep-rim, silver new Continental Grand Prix 3000 tyres, grey

Stem 3T, black

Gear Shifters/Brakes Campagnolo

Handlebars Drop, black, black tape, one bar end plug missing

Forks Silver, pitted paint work

Pedals Egg Beaters

Saddle Brown leather R&R, old skool

It's a long shot, but if you see it, let me know!

[Ouch]

>My bike was stolen between 09:30 and 18:15 on Tuesday 30th September, from our office car park in
>Paddington, London W2.
>
>Just putting the word out, and reminding you lot that bikes are never safe, even when locked and
>there are 2 CCTV cameras and a 24 hour 'security' guard.

<snip snip>

I know it's not much use to you now but the Met have forms where you can write down details of your
bike and also attach a photo. That way when it's stolen you can hand the forms to the police and
they will (supposedly) keep on the lookout. I got given a few at the Cycle Show last week.

Also, there is a Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stolenbike-uk/

I have to confess I've never (touch wood) had to post anything there yet.

What usually happens to stolen bikes? Do they get used as-is or do they get stripped down and
sold as parts? In the latter case, I guess it's very difficult to recover a bike, so I hope this
isn't the case.

You have all my sympathies + I'll keep an eye open for the bike (not that I'm in that area but you
never know where these things end up).

[John Hearns]

On Thu, 02 Oct 2003 12:08:48 +0100, wrote:

>
> <snip snip>
>
> I know it's not much use to you now but the Met have forms where you can write down details of
> your bike and also attach a photo. That way when it's stolen you can hand the forms to the police
> and they will (supposedly) keep on the lookout.

Yes, do report the bike as stolen.

You never, never know but it might turn up one day. The police do check recovered bikes agains the
descriptions they have.

[James Hodson]

On Thu, 02 Oct 2003 14:01:05 +0100, "John Hearns" <jhearns@nospam.nospam> wrote:

>Yes, do report the bike as stolen.
>
>You never, never know but it might turn up one day. The police do check recovered bikes agains the
>descriptions they have.

It's also worth asking the Met about their bike auctions, assuming they hold them. You never know,
Monsta, your bike might turn up there. Naturally, you would not have to bid to get it back.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

[Spencer Bullen]

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stolenbike-uk/
>
> I have to confess I've never (touch wood) had to post anything there yet.
>
> What usually happens to stolen bikes? Do they get used as-is or do they get stripped down and sold
> as parts? In the latter case, I guess it's very difficult to recover a bike, so I hope this isn't
> the case.
>
> You have all my sympathies + I'll keep an eye open for the bike (not that I'm in that area but you
> never know where these things end up).
>

Greetings,

from my experience of policing West London, most bikes that are stolen are used by young
ne'erdowells to commit offences, a popular pastime being to coast up behind somebody on the
pavement, steal a bag, or most likely the mobile phone glued to a pedestrian's ear, and shoot off.
In an urban area, a bike is an excellent tool for a robber: you're too fast to be caught up on by a
foot officer; you're too manoeuvrable for a car, having a host of alleys to duck down. I've long
campaigned to get more officers on bikes, and when I was patrolling (prior to getting 2 knackered
knees) always chose 2 wheels over foot or a car if I had the opportunity. It lead to quite some
ribbing, but quite a few good arrests too!

It is not unusual for such criminals to have literally dozens of bikes stashed around their hunting
grounds, along with changes of clothes, to cut down on the chance of being identified, and you can
guarantee that not one bike was bought legitimately.

I can only encourage cyclists to do their best to make their bikes secure, because as well as losing
your ride, you may well be inadvertently equipping a robber.

T.T.F.N.

SPENNY