Electric bike stolen....it's been a very odd few days

animalhouse

Well, I'd describe the last few days as being being full of luck.

vax2002

I think you might be better telling them right now if they have a call centre like most do.

ppc_guy

indeed phone them now and declare the bike s returned but as a total loss.. Explain the damage and they will agree to "write it off" over the phone normally.

They will arrange to collect the bike and it will go towards their cost of replacement (they will just weight it in or sell it on to a scrap merchant).

If you dont tell them however it is in essence a fraudlent claim.

animalhouse

Thanks, I was going to call them tomorrow as I was assuming that their offices would be closed today. I'll get on to it now.
Thanks so much for taking the time to post, I do appreciate it.

s_b

lets hope the thieves get charged with something

animalhouse

Well, good news. The bike has been written off by the insurers and a new bike should be with me later this week.
The policewoman who helped me, told me that mine was one of 3 bikes stolen that night on our housing estate.... I'll be keeping the new one indoors methinks.

maninthestreet

s_b wrote: »

lets hope the thieves get charged with something

That's shocking!

Strider590

animalhouse wrote: »

I'll be keeping the new one indoors methinks.

Best place for it..... But beware that often these thieves will have followed you home and planned the theft. They'll even break into homes for a bike they can sell.

You need to be more careful/vigilant to ensure your not being followed home, either by people on bikes or by a dodgy looking transit van.
Alternate your route sometimes, use alleyways as short-cuts between roads and housing estates. Just make yourself less of a target!

pendulum

Strider590 wrote: »

Alternate your route sometimes, use alleyways as short-cuts between roads and housing estates. Just make yourself less of a target!

There's a fine line between sensible precation and paranoid behaviour.
IMO that advice crosses the line in to paranoid behaviour.
OP is best off making sure she continues to have adequate insurance in the future, and not letting it worry her. She shouldn't be too scared to cycle directly home.

cord123

Strider590 wrote: »

Best place for it..... But beware that often these thieves will have followed you home and planned the theft. They'll even break into homes for a bike they can sell.

You need to be more careful/vigilant to ensure your not being followed home, either by people on bikes or by a dodgy looking transit van.
Alternate your route sometimes, use alleyways as short-cuts between roads and housing estates. Just make yourself less of a target!

I'm not sure using alleyways is the safest way to make yourself less of a target!!!

im-lost

Strider590 wrote: »

Best place for it..... But beware that often these thieves will have followed you home and planned the theft. They'll even break into homes for a bike they can sell.

You need to be more careful/vigilant to ensure your not being followed home, either by people on bikes or by a dodgy looking transit van.
Alternate your route sometimes, use alleyways as short-cuts between roads and housing estates. Just make yourself less of a target!

Lol, surely your not being serious.

The majority of thefts are from opportunist thieves.

"Oh I can't be arsed to walk home, oh look there's a bike
let's take it"

The fact that the bike was found a short distance away
backs up that it was the work of an opportunist.

Somebody is hardly going to follow the op home, come up
with a master plan to return later and then dump said bike
after.

I do wonder in what kind of world some posters live, maybe
they should ask the nice nurse to up their dosage..