Found my stolen stuff on ebay

Capncrunch7

I'm a college student living on campus, and I discovered this morning that some time over the weekend my bicycle was removed from the racks outside my dormitory. Furious, I went through craigslist and ebay until I found an auction for a bike matching mine. Not only are they the same make and model, they have the exact same aftermarket upgraded seats, rims, derailer, brakes, and more.

In other words, it IS my bike. The complications are that I do not have the serial number of proof of purchase of the bike, since I got it back in 2005. Also, the theft occured in Oregon but it is listed on Ebay as a California item. What do I do?

Mmmm... Cocks...

I don't have any real experience with this, but best bet is to start off by filing a police report.

AtomBomb

Where did you buy the bike? Maybe the shop where you got it has those records....

RUNN1NGMAN

If you could prove that it was your bike, somehow, eBay would likely be able to help you as they have a vested interest in not becoming a fence for stolen goods. You would have to contact their fraud department directly to find out how much proof you need, however.

It looks like eBay will work directly with law enforcement to identify suspects of thefts and burglaries--I would take everything you have and go to campus police. Make sure you take a screen shot of the eBay auction incase it disappears from the site.

http://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/law_enforcement.html

GungHo

Call de cops. If you're in a larger community, they definitely have a theft department, and may even be able to squeeze it into an internet fraud department. Not sure if they'll ask you to take the police report # and forward it to ebay, but they probably will.

As tempting as it may be to either leave naughty feedback or even try to find the guy, I suggest you do not entertain that at all... 1) he may have been sold the bike so may not be the actual thief, 2) being a vigilante and trying to make a citizen's arrest could result in a citizen's asskicking for you or get you put in jail for assault. See: O.J. Simpson. Anyway, it's a law enforcement/ebay issue.

Capncrunch7

This is all great advice, thanks a lot for your help. I've put in a report with the local police and contacted eBay's fraud department.

In a moment of less than ideal thinking I sent the seller an email asking if the serial numbers on the bike had been filed off, since I was missing a similar bicycle and filed numbers are a sign of stolen goods. He responded that he did not steal the bike, but if I could show him that it was my serial number on the bike we could 'arrange to pick it up'.

Seemed like a strange thing to say, since it implies that he is open to the suggestion that the bike came into his possession over the last 48 hours.

The Crowing One

Capncrunch7 wrote: »

Seemed like a strange thing to say, since it implies that he is open to the suggestion that the bike came into his possession over the last 48 hours.

Your moment of weakness may have caught his.

Or more likely, he may be a powerseller who gets objects from other persons and takes a commission. Regardless, I'd just thank him and let him know that you'll be in touch.

Try to get that Serial Number. Without it you'll be up the creek.

supabeast

Definitely follow up with the cops ASAP. Even if you can’t prove that the bike is yours, this might give them ammunition they need to get a warrant and nail the seller. Because bike theft is usually organized crime perpetrated by multiple thieves working with fences one bust can lead to more, so a lot of people might get their bilkes back, and a lot of bike thieves might stop being subhuman trash and get jobs.

Improvolone

And pictures of your bike would help prove what you had