Kid offering to sell bike for cash to passersby

[DaveK]

@elbows 59797 wrote:

Kid offering to sell bike for cash to passersby. How should this be handled?

He could be trying to quickly raise cash from the sale of his own legally acquired bike (such as for his mother’s chemo treatments) or more nefarious circumstances could be at hand.

This has happened to a friend of mine several times in DC and he was wondering.

If it’s a nice bike and it’s cheap, buy it and put up a “Did I just buy your stolen bike?” ad on craigslist. Run the serial number through the relevant registries, etc, and if nothing comes up, flip it, donate it, or ride it. Always better to be in your hands than a thief’s.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@DaveK 59801 wrote:

If it’s a nice bike and it’s cheap, buy it and put up a “Did I just buy your stolen bike?” ad on craigslist. Run the serial number through the relevant registries, etc, and if nothing comes up, flip it, donate it, or ride it. Always better to be in your hands than a thief’s.

Of course you’d be rewarding the thief with cash and thus encouraging further thievery, not to mention buying and possessing stolen goods. Yes, I know someone’s going to buy it, so it’s better to be someone who will attempt to return it to its owner.

[KLizotte]

@DaveK 59801 wrote:

If it’s a nice bike and it’s cheap, buy it and put up a “Did I just buy your stolen bike?” ad on craigslist. Run the serial number through the relevant registries, etc, and if nothing comes up, flip it, donate it, or ride it. Always better to be in your hands than a thief’s.

But that just gives the kid(s) an incentive to keep stealing bikes. No demand = no supply.

[baiskeli]

911.

[mstone]

@baiskeli 59814 wrote:

911.

Unless he’s standing on someone’s face while hawking the bike, I’d call the non-emergency number.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@mstone 59824 wrote:

Unless he’s standing on someone’s face while hawking the bike, I’d call the non-emergency number.

DC doesn’t differentiate…if you need the cops, call 911.

[mstone]

@TwoWheelsDC 59827 wrote:

DC doesn’t differentiate…if you need the cops, call 911.

fascinating. maybe this is why they have trouble answering 911 on a timely basis.

[DaveK]

@baiskeli 59814 wrote:

911.

And say what? Someone’s selling a bike on the sidewalk and it feels shady?

[TwoWheelsDC]

@DaveK 59832 wrote:

And say what? Someone’s selling a bike on the sidewalk and it feels shady?

I think that would be the “official” guidance. On the phone, however, you may get a slightly different response….

[Greenbelt]

@DaveK 59801 wrote:

If it’s a nice bike and it’s cheap, buy it and put up a “Did I just buy your stolen bike?” ad on craigslist. Run the serial number through the relevant registries, etc, and if nothing comes up, flip it, donate it, or ride it. Always better to be in your hands than a thief’s.

Before you buy the bike and repost/donate/turn in, maybe ask if the seller wouldn’t mind if you take his picture posing with it first?

[Rod Smith]

I’ve asked if the original bill of sale was included and I was told to f*** off.

[nikki_d]

@DaveK 59832 wrote:

And say what? Someone’s selling a bike on the sidewalk and it feels shady?

Yes, especially if the bike is not something the kid could reasonably ride size wise or is missing a seat/ front wheel. The police in DC are always encouraging people to report suspicious behavior to 911 on the listservs.

[baiskeli]

@mstone 59824 wrote:

Unless he’s standing on someone’s face while hawking the bike, I’d call the non-emergency number.

Yeah, but “911” was easier to type.

Still, I think if you suspect a crime is in progress, 911 is appropriate.

[Author]

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