Last year in Britain 440,000 bikes were stolen that's 1,200 every day.
If you were one of the unlucky victims, you know how sickening it is to return to the place you thought you’d safely left your bike – only to find that some thief has broken the lock and stolen it.
Many stolen bikes are found when the criminal tries to sell them. Buyers and the police can check the bike's unique Serial number (printed on the chassis) and search online to see if its been registered as stolen.
But if the criminals sell the bikes on auction or second hand sites like E-Bay and Gumtree, they don’t have to put the serial number on the advert – and if the buyer doesn’t ask for it, they can end up with stolen property.
Not only are they unwittingly giving money to criminals, they risk the bike being confiscated and could face prosecution.
We want Gumtree and E-Bay to join the fight against bike crime by making it compulsory for sellers to publish the serial number of any advertised bike.
This would not only protect online shoppers, but make it easier for the police to search for stolen bikes - and stop the thieves profiting from their crime.
Don’t let the internet be a place for criminals to make money – help us cyclists protect the bikes we love.
I have been overwhelmed by the messages from people who have lost their bikes to these platforms. It is truly your stories that keep this momentum going and I am just doing my best to relay them to the right people.
November 12, 2009
I am honestly a bit overwhelmed by the momentum this has gained so quickly. This progress belongs entirely to you because I never imagined so many people felt this same frustration. Thank you for stepping up to help fix a problem that felt impossible to tackle alone.
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2009
9 Comments
R
Rosswell Gadsden
9 years ago
Featured
I had two bikes stolen both appeared on Gumtree. I emailed Gumtree who did not remove them within 12 hours. Since I have noticed the same thief advertising other bikes.
M
Matthew Forman
9 years ago
Featured
Having just had my bike stolen, I think this is a great idea thaw would make it easier to track down stolen bikes and would discourage thieves from trying to sell them.
M
Mark Marquez
16 years ago
Featured
ABOUT TIME. SELLERS SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.
D
Dave Klein
16 years ago
Featured
My bike was pinched last month and I see the same ones popping up on gumtree all the time. It is obvious what is happening and these sites do nothing.
J
Jenny Bell
16 years ago
Featured
It is way to easy for these scumbags to offload stolen goods. Hope this works.
S
Sarah Jimenez
16 years ago
Featured
Too many bikes getting nicked in London. Make them list the serial number, it just makes sense.
T
Tina Johnson
7 years ago
Come on - this should have been done years ago.
P
Patrick Sinclair
7 years ago
Ebay should stop lots of things but this is topvof the list
Last year in Britain 440,000 bikes were stolen that's 1,200 every day.
If you were one of the unlucky victims, you know how sickening it is to return to the place you thought you’d safely left your bike – only to find that some thief has broken the lock and stolen it.
Many stolen bikes are found when the criminal tries to sell them. Buyers and the police can check the bike's unique Serial number (printed on the chassis) and search online to see if its been registered as stolen.
But if the criminals sell the bikes on auction or second hand sites like E-Bay and Gumtree, they don’t have to put the serial number on the advert – and if the buyer doesn’t ask for it, they can end up with stolen property.
Not only are they unwittingly giving money to criminals, they risk the bike being confiscated and could face prosecution.
We want Gumtree and E-Bay to join the fight against bike crime by making it compulsory for sellers to publish the serial number of any advertised bike.
This would not only protect online shoppers, but make it easier for the police to search for stolen bikes - and stop the thieves profiting from their crime.
Don’t let the internet be a place for criminals to make money – help us cyclists protect the bikes we love.
I have been overwhelmed by the messages from people who have lost their bikes to these platforms. It is truly your stories that keep this momentum going and I am just doing my best to relay them to the right people.
November 12, 2009
I am honestly a bit overwhelmed by the momentum this has gained so quickly. This progress belongs entirely to you because I never imagined so many people felt this same frustration. Thank you for stepping up to help fix a problem that felt impossible to tackle alone.
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2009
9 Comments
R
Rosswell Gadsden
9 years ago
Featured
I had two bikes stolen both appeared on Gumtree. I emailed Gumtree who did not remove them within 12 hours. Since I have noticed the same thief advertising other bikes.
M
Matthew Forman
9 years ago
Featured
Having just had my bike stolen, I think this is a great idea thaw would make it easier to track down stolen bikes and would discourage thieves from trying to sell them.
M
Mark Marquez
16 years ago
Featured
ABOUT TIME. SELLERS SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.
D
Dave Klein
16 years ago
Featured
My bike was pinched last month and I see the same ones popping up on gumtree all the time. It is obvious what is happening and these sites do nothing.
J
Jenny Bell
16 years ago
Featured
It is way to easy for these scumbags to offload stolen goods. Hope this works.
S
Sarah Jimenez
16 years ago
Featured
Too many bikes getting nicked in London. Make them list the serial number, it just makes sense.
T
Tina Johnson
7 years ago
Come on - this should have been done years ago.
P
Patrick Sinclair
7 years ago
Ebay should stop lots of things but this is topvof the list
I had two bikes stolen both appeared on Gumtree. I emailed Gumtree who did not remove them within 12 hours. Since I have noticed the same thief advertising other bikes.