Bike stolen - I am not happy

rev_henry

I live in a small block of flats and leave my bike in the communal hallway, which is secured by a fob/buzzer system. Stupidly I didn't lock the bike itself up last night (which I do quite often), and I opened my front door this morning to find it had disappeared. My OH's bike is still there presumably as it was locked up. I last used it yesterday mid afternoon, and went out at 9PM last night at which point I would have noticed if it wasn't there (first thing I said this morning was 'where's my bike' when I opened the door - I wasn't going out to use it or anything, I just immediately noticed). I came back about midnight and may not have noticed as I was drunk. A neighbour in the block has also said it was definitely there at 5pm last night and not this morning (earlier than when I got up).


Called police earlier, and got a crime reference number etc. The annoying thing is it was all marked up with Selectamark and registered on various databases by the Neighbourhood PCSOs at Uni (just up the road), yet the person I spoke to at GMP knows nothing about these databases. University security have told me to call back Monday morning, and the various numbers for the people who do the bike marking scheme at the police (I know them by name) are not answering.

I'm just really annoyed, don't know what to do now. The bike was old and worth very little, but its the principle, I used it every day and loved it. I suppose its lucky in that yesterday was the last day of term for Easter, so I don't NEED it till May now, but its the principle - someone has stolen that which is rightfully mine from me, and I want to use it now but can't.

Rant over. If anyone has any suggestions...?

Also I've been told that if this happened in Lancashire someone would be sent out to investigate, as its been taken from inside the property, but apparently this is not the case with GMP.

thescouselander

I suggest in future you lock your bike to something no matter how old and knackered it is. I assume from your post you are in student accommodation. Maybe one of your neighbours had visitors last night and when they left they couldn't be bothered to walk home. Perhaps you should ask round a bit - someone will know something.

rev_henry

thescouselander wrote: »

I suggest in future you lock your bike to something no matter how old and knackered it is. I assume from your post you are in student accommodation. Maybe one of your neighbours had visitors last night and when they left they couldn't be bothered to walk home. Perhaps you should ask round a bit - someone will know something.

Yup, I've brought the OHs bike into the bathroom for now (only place for it). Yeah, not halls but flats containing almost all students. We have had that exact thought and have done some asking around, but will continue to do so. I might put a sign up on the door as well. I'm going to have to rethink where I put my next bike, but it will have an alarm, insurance and a hefty lock...

mikey72

rev_henry wrote: »

Yup, I've brought the OHs bike into the bathroom for now (only place for it). Yeah, not halls but flats containing almost all students. We have had that exact thought and have done some asking around, but will continue to do so. I might put a sign up on the door as well. I'm going to have to rethink where I put my next bike, but it will have an alarm, insurance and a hefty lock...

Not in the way was it?
Bikes in entrance halls can "disappear" sometimes.

rev_henry

mikey72 wrote: »

Not in the way was it?
Bikes in entrance halls can "disappear" sometimes.

Not as far as I know, we've had the bikes there for months, since we moved in and the landlord doesn't seem to mind. I've spoken to the letting agent just to let them know...

Alias_Omega

Ask neighbours. Someone used it to get home. Use the phrase..

"im not bothered who took it, im not calling the police, i just want it back..."

im sure it will arrive back overnight.

rev_henry

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Ask neighbours. Someone used it to get home. Use the phrase..

"im not bothered who took it, im not calling the police, i just want it back..."

im sure it will arrive back overnight.

That's a good idea. Might put words to that effect on the notice I'm doing. Can't really imagine anyone taking it for any other reason, as I said its worth nothing really.

rev_henry

I've now put a sign up by the door reminding people to make sure the door's closed properly, and asking anyone who knows anything to contact me etc etc. I did also put that it had little value and so if it just turned up again I wouldn't involve the police...

ElkyElky

rev_henry wrote: »

I've now put a sign up by the door reminding people to make sure the door's closed properly, and asking anyone who knows anything to contact me etc etc. I did also put that it had little value and so if it just turned up again I wouldn't involve the police...

It was most likely a light fingered student who took it, though how you could be so trusting as to leave it unsecured is beyond me. Don't they have CCTV in the building? Any student-type buildng I've came across had ample CCTV.

Any student insurance you could claim from?

rev_henry

ElkyElky wrote: »

It was most likely a light fingered student who took it, though how you could be so trusting as to leave it unsecured is beyond me. Don't they have CCTV in the building? Any student-type buildng I've came across had ample CCTV.

Any student insurance you could claim from?

Yeah I'm sure someone knows something. No, its only a small block of privately rented flats, not a student halls. And no, no insurance. Besides it probably wouldn't be worth the excess if I did tbh.

rev_henry

Looked very carefully over my home contents cover before ringing them, and apparently I am covered after all. They're ringing me back in the morning to sort it out... Just wonder what they'll do about the valuation, because its an old bike we got secondhand. But it is new for old cover so we shall see...