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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'How I led police to a thief and got my bike back' | 'How I led police to a thief and got my bike back' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Alasdair Bayman tracked down his stolen bike via the selling platform Gumtree | Alasdair Bayman tracked down his stolen bike via the selling platform Gumtree |
| About 20,000 bicycles are stolen in London every year. And if your bike is one of those, there's little chance of you either getting it back - or of the thief being caught. | About 20,000 bicycles are stolen in London every year. And if your bike is one of those, there's little chance of you either getting it back - or of the thief being caught. |
| When his was taken, Alasdair Bayman from east London thought he would be another of the unfortunate victims to never see their bike again. | When his was taken, Alasdair Bayman from east London thought he would be another of the unfortunate victims to never see their bike again. |
| But then he found it listed on an online marketplace. | But then he found it listed on an online marketplace. |
| He cooked up a plan that would not only lead to the recovery of his bike within 48 hours - but also to the arrest and criminal charge of the man thought to have stolen it. | He cooked up a plan that would not only lead to the recovery of his bike within 48 hours - but also to the arrest and criminal charge of the man thought to have stolen it. |
| Mr Bayman was preparing his bike for the winter season before it got stolen from his home | Mr Bayman was preparing his bike for the winter season before it got stolen from his home |
| Mr Bayman, who lives in Dalston, said he had been upset when he discovered his bike was no longer in the communal hallway of his block of flats. | Mr Bayman, who lives in Dalston, said he had been upset when he discovered his bike was no longer in the communal hallway of his block of flats. |
| The 28-year-old had planned to take advantage of a sunny Sunday morning and cycle to Kent. | The 28-year-old had planned to take advantage of a sunny Sunday morning and cycle to Kent. |
| "I cycled to France over the summer to meet my girlfriend and I have recently been getting it ready for the winter season, to get it into good shape. | "I cycled to France over the summer to meet my girlfriend and I have recently been getting it ready for the winter season, to get it into good shape. |
| "I've put a lot of time, money and energy into it," he said. | "I've put a lot of time, money and energy into it," he said. |
| Later that evening, as he scrolled through the selling platform Gumtree, he saw his Cannondale Topstone listed for less than half its value. | Later that evening, as he scrolled through the selling platform Gumtree, he saw his Cannondale Topstone listed for less than half its value. |
| The police helped Mr Bayman track down his bike | The police helped Mr Bayman track down his bike |
| Mr Bayman said he was determined to get his bike back and was resigned to buying it after negotiating the price down to £750. | Mr Bayman said he was determined to get his bike back and was resigned to buying it after negotiating the price down to £750. |
| A time and date was agreed for the pickup - and when a police officer assigned to the case telephoned him, Mr Bayman told him what he planned to do. | A time and date was agreed for the pickup - and when a police officer assigned to the case telephoned him, Mr Bayman told him what he planned to do. |
| The police advised him to not get the bike on his own, so his girlfriend Eloïse Wright was drafted in. The police also sent officers to accompany them. | The police advised him to not get the bike on his own, so his girlfriend Eloïse Wright was drafted in. The police also sent officers to accompany them. |
| Alasdair's girlfriend Eloïse accompanied him to retrieve the stolen bike in Walthamstow | Alasdair's girlfriend Eloïse accompanied him to retrieve the stolen bike in Walthamstow |
| Mr Bayman and Ms Wright went to Walthamstow, thinking it would be plain sailing - but there was a trap. | Mr Bayman and Ms Wright went to Walthamstow, thinking it would be plain sailing - but there was a trap. |
| The thief had been watching them from a different block of flats. He changed his name on Gumtree and went silent when Mr Bayman said he had arrived. | The thief had been watching them from a different block of flats. He changed his name on Gumtree and went silent when Mr Bayman said he had arrived. |
| The police got access to one of the blocks and worked out that the pictures posted on the online marketplace matched the inside hallway. | The police got access to one of the blocks and worked out that the pictures posted on the online marketplace matched the inside hallway. |
| They knocked on a door and when the thief's mother answered, she asked the police: "What's he done now?" | They knocked on a door and when the thief's mother answered, she asked the police: "What's he done now?" |
| Mr Bayman's bike was there, along with three others. | Mr Bayman's bike was there, along with three others. |
| 'Justice has been done' | 'Justice has been done' |
| Less than 48 hours after it had been stolen, a "very, very relieved" Mr Bayman had his bike back. | Less than 48 hours after it had been stolen, a "very, very relieved" Mr Bayman had his bike back. |
| The Metropolitan Police said a 21-year-old man had been arrested and had since been charged in connection with handling stolen goods. | The Metropolitan Police said a 21-year-old man had been arrested and had since been charged in connection with handling stolen goods. |
| He will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court next month. | He will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court next month. |
| Mr Bayman said he felt justice had been done - and he was "thankful" the police had taken it seriously. | Mr Bayman said he felt justice had been done - and he was "thankful" the police had taken it seriously. |
| He added: "I hope this shows thieves 'you can't get away with this'." | He added: "I hope this shows thieves 'you can't get away with this'." |
| A spokesperson for Gumtree said: "We do not tolerate the sale of stolen goods on our platform, and we take the issue of cycle crime very seriously. | |
| "We strongly urge anyone who suspects that they have found their stolen property listed on our site to contact law enforcement and report it to us via our helpdesk." | |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Have you had your bike stolen? Share your experiences. | Have you had your bike stolen? Share your experiences. |
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