Sting operation sees stolen electric bike returned to owner

[SEATALTEA]

I'm still hanging around the forum despite being without an electric bike.

I have daily hands on and supervisory experience of policing stretching from the mid 80's to the present which includes some unique specialism and the basics of throwing offensive drunks into the cells at weekends.

I really don't want to sound rude (it's difficult not to in this case) but in general the public have no idea at all what the Police do although they thinks they know what is done as a result of increased but largely inaccurate coverage in the media.

The Police have no voice, no union and no recourse, they are made up of a cross section of society with the good, bad and ugly which that brings, they are Lions Led By Donkeys.

I've found the best way to sum it up is with the below analogy. I would urge you to adapt and overlay onto your own employment or business to get an idea of the position the Police find themselves currently as a result of total and utter control by Government.

'If all calls to the Police stopped tomorrow, for one year, then there is already enough work ongoing for that year to keep everyone fully occupied'

Just think about that, it really is that simple, the UK populous provided the current government and they provided the current UK Police Service, without a revolution or a change of government nothing will change.

 

[flecc]

the position the Police find themselves currently as a result of total and utter control by Government.

without a revolution or a change of government nothing will change.

I think you'll find that many are already aware of this, I certainly am and I'm not holding my breath for any change to arrive.

Of course this simply doesn't suit the population at large and the police are condemned to just carry on with their thankless task, probably frustrated at the impossibilities inherent in that.
.

 

[Barnowl]

Sweeping generalisations on TV and in the press etc are condemned for some groups. For others the snipers are out in force.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Well done Holmes and Watson, I mean Lloyd and Simon, maybe youre in the wrong careers!!

John

 

[Old Timer]

Well, I say good luck to 50 cycles. Must have been a good feeling to leave with that bike and even better to hand it back to the owner.

As far as the police go, I live well out in the sticks and each officer has quite a wide area to look after and in my own experience I have in general nothing but praise for them. Yes of course you get good and bad in all walks of life but one thing for sure is that they have a hell of a lot on their plate at any given time.
In general, the kind of people that frequent a forum like this one are more or less pretty law abiding (maybe the odd misdemeanour) I know a couple of police officers enough to have a cuppa with and pass the time of day and most people have no idea just what they have to put up with most working days only what they read in the press or on the news. They tend to be dammed if they do or dammed if they don`t.
One thing for sure is that without them we might all be sitting behind locked doors with shotguns in our hands. Most times it`s some of the stupid laws that they have to enforce that makes them look bad.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Couldnt agree more, but I have personal experience both good and bad. A friend car was broken into, and he found out who was trying to sell the in-car dvd system in the local pub from his numerous friends, told the local police where this person lived - nothing.

I had a group of about 5 teenagers throwing snow and compacted iceballs at my wife as she returned from work last year, I remonstrated with them, and they proceeded to continue to pelt the house (my 3yr old was in bed, and upset by the noise against the windows). I just wanted a drive past by them but the police were too busy, I ended up in and out of the house over and over, with half a dozen teenagers throwing snow and ice-balls for about 3 hours (scared in-case it turned into a stone through the little boys window).

I know the police are trying and under pressure, but sometimes it would only take a little effort. I understand the 'private security' some are paying for, I think I would too if it were available.

I would be over the moon with the result that Lloyd and Simon achieved, regardless of the consequences for the burgular. If they would have done nothing (like 90% of other retailers) then nothing would have been recovered.

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

Couldnt agree more, but I have personal experience both good and bad. ...


...I know the police are trying and under pressure, but sometimes it would only take a little effort. I understand the 'private security' some are paying for, I think I would too if it were available.

I would be over the moon with the result that Lloyd and Simon achieved, regardless of the consequences for the burgular. If they would have done nothing (like 90% of other retailers) then nothing would have been recovered.

good comment,

excellent work from the Lads at 50 Cycles, well done chaps. wish there were a few more retailers with their clients' interests at heart.

the Boyz'n'Galz in blue really are just too busy dealing with the more critical issues, rapes/assaults/accidents/fires etc, take your pick, then add the onerous paperwork reporting these incidents, then add the statistical 'targetting' of resources to meet the requirements of our 'political masters' and you run out of budgeted man-hours before the lesser evils in life can be investigated.

In this New World reality, folks may have to get used to doing more for themselves, helping out other folk where they can, doing a bit more 'good' around the place instead of relying on the authorities (whose job it may well be) and instead of bitching, just get on 'with it'. This bike theft/recovery is a good example, had it been done 'by the book' quite probably nothing would have happened due to lack of resources, as it is, the bike is recovered. OK the 'perp' may go free this time, but his own behaviour will eventually catch him up.

my two cents

 

[flecc]

This bike theft/recovery is a good example, had it been done 'by the book' quite probably nothing would have happened due to lack of resources, as it is, the bike is recovered. OK the 'perp' may go free this time,

At least the experience will almost certainly put him off stealing an e-bike again, now he realises that they can be rare enough to be identifiable in this way through the need of a specific charger.

So that one form of crime by an individual has almost certainly been prevented in future.
.

 

[HarryB]

At least the experience will almost certainly put him off stealing an e-bike again, now he realises that they can be rare enough to be identifiable in this way through the need of a specific charger.

So that one form of crime by an individual has almost certainly been prevented in future.
.

...and personally I would always take the battery in with me if left for longer than a few minutes. It makes it just that little more unattractive to thieves. Doesn't really work on the cytronex unfortunately.

 

[daniel.weck]

Kalkhoff Agattu Electric Bike 49cm frame on eBay (end time 19-Dec-09 16:29:13 GMT)

The bike still hasn't sold despite the low starting bid:

Kalkhoff Agattu Electric Bike 49cm frame on eBay (end time 26-Dec-09 16:44:33 GMT)

 

[oriteroom]

Hi

The seller isn't doing himself any favours by his pictures of it. Main photograph is of it from the 'wrong' side - they never look as 'pretty' from that side and even worse without a battery and against a railing. You don't even know it comes with a battery until you read on... I know accuracy is important in sales BUT so is presentation. I know I've sold two Powabykes on ebay without any trouble when we changed over to Pro Connects and nothing beats a picture from the right angle in sunlight etc etc. The black duck tape repair on the chain guard doesn't help, and he draws attention to it in the blurb as well. Grey duck tape wouldn't have been so stark. Why not say in the blurb that 50cycles have replacement chainguards in stock at less than £15? Personally, selling a £800 bike I'd invest in a new guard before trying to sell.

Mike

 

[lemmy]

without a revolution or a change of government nothing will change.

A recent radio poll for a motto for the English, as the French have Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite for example, came up with 'Mustn't Grumble'.

As we have seen here, so long as the person gets their bike back, many don't mind the theft. Maybe as compassion (apparently) defines the Scots, passivity defines the English?