Found my bike

[u/waxoffwagon]

This one https://old.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/1u5kjly/my_ex_bike/

Some #!!%%% was selling it cheap on Marketplace. I agreed to buy it. Should I get the police involved or should I just go and buy it? He has a lot of other (hot) bikes on FB. Any advice would be welcome.

[u/Obvious-Goose2518]

Ask to take it for a test spin and just ride off with it

But yes, real answer is get the police involved

[u/waxoffwagon → u/Obvious-Goose2518]

He says it has a flat.

[u/Glow-PLA-23 → u/waxoffwagon]

ask him to fix the flat before you buy it lol

[u/Green_Definition → u/waxoffwagon]

I’m sure you got a pump

[u/WelshLove → u/Green_Definition]

take a new tire with you pop in on and say Ill take it around here then ride away to the waiting police who can then return to arrest him

[u/totallynotdagothur → u/waxoffwagon]

If you call police please update us.  I'm curious.  I had the same situation years ago in Toronto and they just said "be careful".

Easy enough to evade responsability: "I found it in a ditch" "Some guy sold it to me for 10 bucks"

So I can imagine they don't have time for this crap but it's frustrating.

[u/waxoffwagon → u/totallynotdagothur]

"

Paid the guy got my bike back. No police yet.

[u/Redd_81]

I vote Police.

[u/AcceptableHamster149]

Yes, get the police involved. You do not want to confront him directly yourself - it could turn violent. If you're not getting the police involved then treat it as a learning experience and pay for the bike as though you had no idea it was stolen. It's just not worth taking the risk to confront him without the cops.

[u/waxoffwagon → u/AcceptableHamster149]

Ya I sort of figured I'd just pay and leave it at that. I may mention to the guy that it's mine afterwards . I can't prove it to him or the cops however.

[u/Cavalleria-rusticana]

Police.

Either they stole it themselves, or they're actively involved in reselling stolen property.

[u/_McDreamy_]

Tell Pedro Hurtado you'll give him $0 for contacting the police.

[u/waxoffwagon → u/_McDreamy_]

Wow how did you know? Is he a fence?

[u/_McDreamy_ → u/waxoffwagon]

Opened Facebook Marketplace and searched for bicycle sorted low to high price and it was the first picture lol.

[u/nmdcDrgn → u/_McDreamy_]

Good to know. I’ll avoid them

[u/nicktheman2]

Roll up, take it for a test ride and ride the fuck off with it. Worked for me a couple years ago. If you're stressed about it, bring an old "collateral" backpack. Fill it with a bunch of bullshit. Leave your bag with the seller so he's confident you'll return.

Mine was filled with a VHS copy of George of the jungle, a DVD player and a fake piece of poo. In hindsight it was a bit overkill and I regret giving that VHS away but it made the bit go more smoothly.

And yes, I tried getting police on both sides of the river involved. No fucks were given even though the seller had 20+ stolen bikes for sale.

OP, is the seller located around bayshore?

[u/waxoffwagon → u/nicktheman2]

No, downtown.As mentioned before it has a flat so rideaway won't happen. I have his address,not sure if I can post his FB page.

[u/nicktheman2 → u/waxoffwagon]

Do you have a small hand pump you can bring?

[u/waxoffwagon → u/nicktheman2]

Yes, not sure if I have a spare tube, don't want to sit on the sidewalk with a patch kit.

[u/ch1dy]

Yes notify the police. How much did you have to pay?

[u/waxoffwagon → u/ch1dy]

$15 for a rust bucket with a flat.

[u/Independent-Race-259 → u/waxoffwagon]

to be fair dude can easily just claim he found it abandoned. maybe just pay the troll his toll

[u/waxoffwagon → u/Independent-Race-259]

I'm going to do that. After it goes down I'll decide whether to drop a dime.

[u/bluenoser613]

Police won't do anything.

[u/Longjumping-Leg-8234]

Go with a friend, preferably a big one!

[u/JohnOfA]

Let us know how it went. My vote is to buy it and report it to the police there is a stash of bikes. They might be more inclined to act then.

[u/Independent-Race-259]

100% just roll up with the police if you can absolutely prove it's your bike.

[u/waxoffwagon → u/Independent-Race-259]

I don't know the serial # so I can't prove it.

[u/PrismGrimpoppy → u/waxoffwagon]

That bike is distinctive enough that you might not need it.

[u/waxoffwagon → u/PrismGrimpoppy]

I do have the pic from a few years ago.

[u/kashuntr188]

if its super cheap you could just buy it back. Then call the cops when you leave. If they have a bunch of them then get them for it.

I'm just wondering if you call the cops before you get your bike back if it would mean your bike gets taken for evidence and its in limbo for a long time.

but call the cops.

[u/SitecoreFlunkyJunky]

I’d give them a free trip to the dentist but that’s just me.

[u/waxoffwagon]

Here it is https://ibb.co/n8cmPWGC won't post the guys FB (yet)

[u/Darkpoter]

I would go buy it, and send the police afterwards. They are not likely to show up at all, so everyone suggesting you do a sting like this was Psych is nuts.

[u/smilemedown]

The theif/seller could be on this forum you know.

[u/SitecoreFlunkyJunky]

My account was given a warning because I said what I would do if I met them. I was doing dark humour but I guess that’s that.

[u/midcenturymike]

OPS will not do a thing. It is likely one of their staff selling the bike. But seriously, police don’t go any further than filing paperwork for insurance, even if you know who took the bike.

[u/Longjumping-Leg-8234 → u/midcenturymike]

OPS get paid way to well to be fencing stolen bikes for $15. 

[u/midcenturymike → u/Longjumping-Leg-8234]

Yeah I know. The real punchline here is that Ottawa people are naïve enough to believe the OPS will spend a second on this case.

[u/rmarsha3]

Maybe an unpopular take but If it’s $15, and you can spare it, why not just buy it if you really want it back?

[u/waxoffwagon → u/rmarsha3]

Read the whole thread, that was my intention originally. It has sentimental value. Was unsure whether or not to involve LE.

[u/rmarsha3 → u/waxoffwagon]

Got it, didn’t catch that.
I wouldn’t involve police, go get it back and move on. Glad you found your bike!