Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Just a timely warning/reminder: I've been looking out for a particular model of bike as a present for a friend; four times in the past week I have contacted sellers via Gumtree, and each time the seller has offered to meet at a bus station/carpark/street corner. Each time when I've said I'll only buy if I can collect from a residential address or place of employment, contact has ceased. Guess I may have been unlucky but having four hits in a row from those who are only prepared to sell in a clandestine manner would seem to indicate that a very high proportion of Gumtree bike sales are of stolen bikes. So really, just a plea from someone who's lost several well-beloved machines in the past, by all means buy bikes from Gumtree (I do, and sell through them as well), but always ask before going to get a bike that it be collected from a residence or place of work, or that the seller shows you some ID with an address on it, or that they show a bike shop receipt. Any honest and genuine seller will understand why. If we all did this I'm sure the scourge of bike thefts could be reduced dramatically!


Cheers,


Rendel

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/212974-dodgy-bike-sales-on-gumtree/
Share on other sites

siousxiesue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm also suspicious that you may be conveniently

> mugged whilst waiting on a street corner carrying

> your cash ready for the sale.


Yes - or in the case of a mate who foolishly bought a guitar at a streetcorner meet and got mugged for the guitar about two minutes after the seller disappeared. He could never prove it was a setup but very suspicious timing.

Rendel - I assume that you knew straight away that these are crims. One of my earliest threads was about a stolen bike that appeared on Gumtree that same evening, having used bolt croppers on a decent chain. The ad was taken straight from the website - no personal info on use, or reason for sale. Names are changed (but the phone number remains the same) and it is never 'their' bike, but a mates. Sadly even though it was clearly my bike, the police didn't follow up. A Met police Cycle Task Force was set up by TfL to help tackle cycle theft, but not seen any activity recently. I put the phone number of 'thief' on the thread and got two PMs from people outside our area who had the same problem. Now you have got me started.

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Rendel - I assume that you knew straight away that

> these are crims.


Not immediately, actually, as all the ads were quite genuine-sounding and knowledgeable; I know the ones where the spec is lifted straight from the manufacturer's website etc are easy to spot, but I reckon the more cunning ones are now cut and pasting from old genuine ads. That's why I insist on meeting at their residence and seeing proofs.


I know three people who've spotted their stolen bikes on eBay or Gumtree and asked the police to come along and nick the thief and been refused on the grounds that there wasn't enough evidence for the accusation (at least two of them were highly customised high-end road bikes which couldn't possibly have been anything but their own).

There are also frame numbers of course. But I suspect the main problem is that, as has been mentioned, a perp's assertion that they were just acting for a friend would probably on its own be enough to avoid any conviction for handling stolen goods. In choice cases though, I'd still like to see the police make an arrest where there was reasonable suspicion, and see where the subsequent investigation, searches and interview led. Bear in mind too that a conviction in the previous five years for handling can itself be admissible evidence in determining an accused's guilty knowledge. https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/theft-act-offences#a25


On another tack, has anyone asked the police simply to be in attendance, to maintain the Queen's peace while you reclaimed your clearly stolen property? It would look rather bad if they consistently refused and you then got marmalised.

Some PMs on the subject when I posted after getting my bike stolen and putting the number up from Gumtree on this Forum. Abridged extracts below, given no personal details away bar that they had had bikes stolen by the same person.


Hi there,


I had a bike stolen and sold on Gumtree by the same people that you reported.


I would like to catch these people, have reported it to the Met ........


Hi

Your message came up through my detective work.

I too have had my bike stolen - just a couple of days ago. I immediately started looking on gumtree and found 2 prospective thieves. One I called - see his advert below.


I called him - he swore at me, told me the bike had been sold and put the phone down. I then put his number into a google search and as well as finding loads of other adverts for bike sales, I found this thread.

.....


All a few years ago, and probably not of interest to most.

But FFS why Gumtree, the police, or some higher being couldn't do anything about it. OK calm now.

Been a real spate lately. My black Scott hybrid (extra large frame) went from Catford station last week (I know, I know). I went straight to Gumtree and immediately got into a peculiar conversation with a very dodgy bloke who kept trying to Facetime me. He had a Scott hybrid for sale (and several other bikes, such as 'Doors' (sic, Dawes!)) but it was orange. I wondered if the pix they put up of the bike purportedly for sale are not of the actual bike.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Nasty piece of work. Targets locations with a healthy independent presence and farmers’ markets; typical vampire capitalism. Great supporter of a Brexit too. All good reasons to go elsewhere, preferably small independent., 
    • Hi, oglander , Congratulations on your soon-to-arrive little lion - how exciting! It's always lovely to hear someone taking the adoption route (shelters are having a major crisis at the moment!). I've been in business for 15 years & can say with certainty that most cat owners in Dulwich have catflaps so, not only are they easy to have installed, but you shouldn't find yourself short of helping hands on these local forums. A catflap is a brilliant way to keep your little lion safely in overnight as well as generally keeping track of their comings & goings. I'd be happy to walk you through the set up once you've chosen your model (SureFlap & PetSafe are two popular brands). I'm sure the rescue has already advised, but just in case they haven't, it'll be very important to keep your newly adopted cat housebound for the first 2 weeks to familiarise themselves with their new home. Once they've scent-mapped the house, you can gradually begin letting them out to explore & scent-map the garden. Exciting times! x
    • Hello all,  If your child goes to this gym club: since the new payment system, have you received clear information about the cost per session, the cost per term and when sessions will be omitted eg for school opened days? (I have asked the club, more than once, no full response so far) This term started in late August, before school had gone back (did many attend that session?). Next term there is no break for half term, so there are 12 sessions to be paid. Does that seem to be more sessions than there used to be?    I am sure they are doing their best, but the info from the new auto pay system isn’t detailed enough, and the auto pay just takes an unspecified amount. I wondered if it’s just me (wanting more detail), or if there are others too? (my child loves the gym itself!) thanks 
    • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent service! We had one of Paul Edgley’ s team come to fit some new lights in our living room. They were able to come at reasonably short notice, arrived on time, were friendly and professional, and did a great job. Everything was left clean and tidy afterwards, and the lights look fantastic. Highly recommend! Paul’s contact details are 07802 627967  
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...