When can I dispose of a bike?

swingaloo

Not sure this is the right place for this post but couldnt decide where to put it.

I found a bike outside my house early one morning about 3 weeks ago. It was lay on its side and as I was going out I noticed the bike as the back light was flashing on it. It was still dark so I just assumed maybe a paper boy was around. When I returned home at 8.40 it was daylight and the bike was still there. It had been there for at least 2 hours by then. I put a note on the fence saying to knock on my door if anyone came back looking for it and then
I took it into the garden and at that point noticed that the back wheel was not turning freely due to the chain mechanism being bent.

The bike, whilst not new is in pretty good condition apart from this bent bit. Its a teenage size.

I rang the police in case it had been reported missing but got an answering machine so I left a message and the recorded voice said someone would get back to me within 24 hours but nothing yet!

I advertised it on the 'Lost and Found' on a local town website. I put it on Facebook and also put it on 2 neighbouring towns websites. I tried on the 'Missing Bike' website. I put an advert in the local paper shop window

I had a few questions re the colour, size etc but no one has come forward to claim it. One person suggested that maybe it had been hit by a car and dumped due to the damage to the chain. I cant really see that myself because its a £300+ bike and I would have thought the owner would have taken it for repair rather than just leave it.

Now in all honesty its just in the way. Due to the weather Ive ended up putting it in my shed but want rid. I dont know what i can do with it, its too good to take to the tip. I asked one of our friends if he would like to take it for his son but as he rightly said 'If he is riding it in town and the person who has lost it sees him he is going to be accused of theft'.

So question is- How far do I have to go to trace the owner? When can I dispose of it? Do I have the right to give it to someone rather than dumping it?

Silvertabby

Take it to the Police Station.

swingaloo

Silvertabby wrote: »

Take it to the Police Station.

I would but I cant get it in my car, the nearest police desk is now 4 miles away as they have closed the local one and I cant push it there due to the back wheel not turning.

Im a bit annoyed with the police response, Ive left messages on 2 separate days and had no response at all.

sheramber

Then maybe you should put it back outside where you found it.

Phone the police and tell them it is there.

I don't think you have any right to dispose of it

Proxima_Centauri

Depending on the area, missing push-bikes might not be top of the Police's list of priorities..

Lost property which hasn't been claimed after about 6 weeks (?) can legally be claimed by the person who found it. But you will have to take it there.

Person_one

Did you ring 101 or your local police station?

If you haven't had any police contact, I'd ring 101 to report the bike, that's what its for. People don't just abandon their own bikes with the lights still on, even if they are a bit damaged, it will belong to somebody!

boliston

I "recycled" an old bike I no longer needed by just leaving it outside my flat unlocked.

I was thinking of dumping it but I would rather someone made use of it as every cyclist on the road means one less car and less pollution.

It was there for a few days but had gone to a new proud owner after about 10 days.

swingaloo

Person_one wrote: »

Did you ring 101 or your local police station?

If you haven't had any police contact, I'd ring 101 to report the bike, that's what its for. People don't just abandon their own bikes with the lights still on, even if they are a bit damaged, it will belong to somebody!

It was 101 that I rang, we dont have a local Police Station any more.

I thought it had perhaps been pinched and dumped. I even left a note on the fence by where it was left saying I had the bike safe in the back garden in case anyone came back for it.

Person_one

swingaloo wrote: »

It was 101 that I rang, we dont have a local Police Station any more.

I thought it had perhaps been pinched and dumped. I even left a note on the fence by where it was left saying I had the bike safe in the back garden in case anyone came back for it.

I think that's probably likely, but it might have been marked by the owner and if the police get it they could return it to them.

Ring 101 again, say that you need to report a likely stolen bike you've found. I've had to call it a few times and never got through to an answer phone so you must have been unlucky, I'm sure you'll get through if you try again.

karcher

Good for you for going to so much effort, but if it is in the way now, I think you have done all you can, so would just put it back on the street.

Someone will take it sooner or later.

Well done to you though OP

swingaloo

Thanks, I will try the 101 again tomorrow. The message always says 'Sorry there is no one to take your call, we are all out at the moment but will return your call within 24 hours'.

The sad thing is that on one of the local websites there are several people looking for bikes which have been stolen and some have been the same make but they are never the right colour. Obviously I have not put a picture on the websites as someone could just say 'Ah yes thats mine' and I dont want to hand it over to a chancer.

I will try again but Im hesitant to put it back outside at the front. Ive recently moved and had to dispose of an old fridge which was left in this house. The neighbour told me to put it out at the front and it literally took less than 30 mins for a scrap man to take it. I then found an old freezer had been left in the shed so I did the same with that and it went in less than 2 hours. I would rather the bike went to its owner than to the scrap man.