u/loploplopz

My bike was stolen recently in Sweden. I filed a police report online with all the evidence I had, including bike serial number (yes, all bikes have one in their frame, check it out NOW and register it for free in Bikeindex, Cykeldatabasen or any other in your area!) and past pictures of my bike. I set up alerts with my bike brand and model in Facebook Marketplace, Tradera, Blocket...in areas all around Sweden and also Denmark and it worked!
Yesterday, a couple of weeks after the theft, I found it being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Same customizations, scratches, stickers, etc that make my bike unique. The ad gave an approximate location but I needed an exact spot...

I contacted the seller saying I was interested to buy it and offering cash (they prefer it because it leaves no trace). I quickly gathered evidence: original proof of purchase, screenshots of the Facebook ad, downloaded the website in HTML (right-click contextual menu or ctrl+S in your browser) and the seller's profile URL and called the police at 11414. They sent me a link to upload every proof I had and they said I should call 112 around 20 minutes before meeting the seller (thief), so a patrol could be with me at the spot.They told me if I steal the bike back I am committing a crime.

Today I managed to meet the thief. Before going there I printed some of the previous pictures of my bike not showing any of my personal data or my face, and his current and past profile pics from facebook that I had shared with the police. I put my U-lock in the side pocket of my bag prepared for a quick action: unlocked and with the key inserted so I could swiftly lock it around my bike the moment I could.
It was in a public space, with plenty of people. He came with another person, but the moment I saw my bike and asked them to let me inspect it, I closed my lock through the back wheel and told them that it was my bike. Right away handed them the papers with the printed proof (past photos of my bike) and told the guys that the police knew all about this and they even had their pictures from their facebook profile (same ones printed in the paper I just gave them). In that moment the second guy started saying they should leave and then I started calling the police at 112. They slowly walked away from me, I locked my bike now to a signpost so it was safe and I told the police how the thieves were dressing and which direction they were going.

After 2 weeks, my bike is back with me and I could not be happier! Double locking it from now on...

TAKE HOME MESSAGES:

1. Write down your serial number today, now. It's under the bottom bracket. Without it, proving ownership is nearly impossible.
2. Then register your bike on Cyle;databasen or Bike Index — both are completely free. It takes 5 minutes and makes a huge difference.
3. Always ask for the serial number when buying second hand. You should check it against both registries before paying. If the seller can't provide it, walk away.
4. Stolen bikes end up on Blocket and Facebook Marketplace constantly. Don't make it easy for thieves.

PS(i): I have started trolling all the facebook ads of this guy with a fake account. I took screenshots of his ads and edited them to add his profile picture and a big warning saying "This is a stolen bike". Then I uploaded the counter-ad with the same title and price in the same area, so people are aware that he is a criminal.

PS(ii): I know the police said to call them before meeting the guy, but I know they would have walked away. Some other police said to call them only once I see the bike, but I still thought then the thieves would go away rather than politely wait for the police to come. So the lock manoeuvre was key for me.

Be safe.

EDIT: Reddit is not letting me post the image or link, but item 1543170280531404 in facebook marketplace is the counter-ad I posted to try to stop the guy from selling another stolen bike that he posted on the same day as he posted mine.

My bike was stolen recently in Sweden. I filed a police report online with all the evidence I had, including bike serial number (yes, all bikes have one in their frame, check it out NOW and register it for free in Bikeindex, Cykeldatabasen or any other in your area!) and past pictures of my bike. I set up alerts with my bike brand and model in Facebook Marketplace, Tradera, Blocket...in areas all around Sweden and also Denmark and it worked!
Yesterday, a couple of weeks after the theft, I found it being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Same customizations, scratches, stickers, etc that make my bike unique. The ad gave an approximate location but I needed an exact spot...

I contacted the seller saying I was interested to buy it and offering cash (they prefer it because it leaves no trace). I quickly gathered evidence: original proof of purchase, screenshots of the Facebook ad, downloaded the website in HTML (right-click contextual menu or ctrl+S in your browser) and the seller's profile URL and called the police at 11414. They sent me a link to upload every proof I had and they said I should call 112 around 20 minutes before meeting the seller (thief), so a patrol could be with me at the spot.They told me if I steal the bike back I am committing a crime.

Today I managed to meet the thief. Before going there I printed some of the previous pictures of my bike not showing any of my personal data or my face, and his current and past profile pics from facebook that I had shared with the police. I put my U-lock in the side pocket of my bag prepared for a quick action: unlocked and with the key inserted so I could swiftly lock it around my bike the moment I could.
It was in a public space, with plenty of people. He came with another person, but the moment I saw my bike and asked them to let me inspect it, I closed my lock through the back wheel and told them that it was my bike. Right away handed them the papers with the printed proof (past photos of my bike) and told the guys that the police knew all about this and they even had their pictures from their facebook profile (same ones printed in the paper I just gave them). In that moment the second guy started saying they should leave and then I started calling the police at 112. They slowly walked away from me, I locked my bike now to a signpost so it was safe and I told the police how the thieves were dressing and which direction they were going.

After 2 weeks, my bike is back with me and I could not be happier! Double locking it from now on...

TAKE HOME MESSAGES:

1. Write down your serial number today, now. It's under the bottom bracket. Without it, proving ownership is nearly impossible.
2. Then register your bike on Cykeldatabasen and Bike Index — both are completely free. It takes 5 minutes and makes a huge difference.
3. Always ask for the serial number when buying second hand. You should check it against both registries before paying. If the seller can't provide it, walk away.
4. Stolen bikes end up on Blocket and Facebook Marketplace constantly. Don't make it easy for thieves.

PS(i): I have started trolling all the facebook ads of this guy with a fake account. I took screenshots of his ads and edited them to add his profile picture and a big warning saying "This is a stolen bike". Then I uploaded the counter-ad with the same title and price in the same area, so people are aware that he is a criminal.

PS(ii): I know the police said to call them before meeting the guy, but I know they would have walked away. Some other police said to call them only once I see the bike, but I still thought then the thieves would go away rather than politely wait for the police to come. So the lock manoeuvre was key for me.

Be safe.

EDIT: Reddit is not letting me post the image or link, but item 1543170280531404 in facebook marketplace is the counter-ad I posted to try to stop the guy from selling another stolen bike that he posted on the same day as he posted mine.

My bike was stolen recently in Lund. I filed a police report online with all the evidence I had, including bike serial number (yes, all bikes have one in their frame, check it out NOW and register it for free in bikeindex or cykeldatabasen for example!) and past pictures of my bike. I set up alerts with my bike brand and model in Facebook Marketplace, Tradera, Blocket...in areas all around Sweden and also Denmark and it worked!
Yesterday, a couple of weeks after the theft, I found it being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Same customizations, scratches, stickers, etc that make my bike unique. The ad said it was in Malmö but I needed an exact location...

I contacted the seller saying I was interested to buy it and offering cash (they prefer it because it leaves no trace). I quickly gathered evidence: original proof of purchase, screenshots of the Facebook ad, downloaded the website in HTML (right-click contextual menu or ctrl+S in your browser) and the seller's profile URL and called the police at 11414. They sent me a link to upload every proof I had and they said I should call 112 around 20 minutes before meeting the seller (thief), so a patrol could be with me at the spot.They told me if I steal the bike back I am committing a crime.

Today I managed to meet the thief. Before going there I printed some of the previous pictures of my bike not showing any of my personal data or my face, and his current and past profile pics from facebook that I had shared with the police. I put my U-lock in the side pocket of my bag prepared for a quick action: unlocked and with the key inserted so I could swiftly lock it around my bike the moment I could.
It was in a public space, with plenty of people. He came with another person, but the moment I saw my bike and ask them to inspect it, I closed my lock through the back wheel and told them that it was my bike. Right away handed them the papers with the printed proof (past photos of my bike) and told the guys that the police knew all about this and they even had their pictures from (same ones printed in the paper I just gave them). In that moment the second guy started saying they should leave and then I started calling the police at 112. They slowly walked away from me, I locked my bike now to a signpost so it was safe and I told the police how the thieves were dressing and which direction they were going.

After 2 weeks, my bike is back with me and I could not be happier! Double locking it from now on...

TAKE HOME MESSAGES:

1. Write down your serial number today, now. It's under the bottom bracket. Without it, proving ownership is nearly impossible.
2. Then register your bike on Cykeldatabasen and Bike Index — both are completely free. It takes 5 minutes and makes a huge difference.
3. Always ask for the serial number when buying second hand. You should check it against both registries before paying. If the seller can't provide it, walk away.
4. Stolen bikes end up on Blocket and Facebook Marketplace constantly. Don't make it easy for thieves.

PS(i): I have started trolling all the facebook ads of this guy with a fake account. I took screenshots of his ads and edited them to add his profile picture and a big warning saying "This is a stolen bike". Then I uploaded the counter-ad with the same title and price in the same area, so people is aware of this scumbag.

PS(ii): I know the police said to call them before meeting the guy, but I know they would have walked away. Some other police said to call them only once I see the bike, but I still thought then the thieves would go away rather than politely wait for the police to come. So the lock manoeuvre was key for me.

Be safe.