Is It Illegal To Buy a Stolen Bike?
This is a crucial question, and the short answer is that it is illegal to buy a stolen bike if you know or believe it to be stolen.
Here’s a breakdown of the legal and practical implications, particularly for a country like the UK, where “handling stolen goods” is a serious offense:
The Crime: Handling Stolen Goods
The legal term for this is “handling stolen goods.” You can be charged with this crime if you “dishonestly receive” a stolen item, “knowing or believing” it to be stolen.1
- Knowledge or belief is key: This is the most important part. If you buy a bike and have no reason to believe it’s stolen (e.g. you buy it from a legitimate shop with a receipt, or it’s priced fairly), you likely have not committed a crime.
- Suspicious circumstances: The law can also look at whether a “reasonable person” would have been suspicious. Red flags include:
- An unusually low price.
- The seller is evasive, vague, or gives you a bad feeling.
- The sale takes place in a suspicious location or at an odd hour.
- The seller has no proof of ownership, such as a receipt or the bike’s documentation.
- The serial number has been filed off or tampered with.
The Consequences
Even if you didn’t know the bike was stolen, you will still lose the bike and the money you paid for it. Here’s why:
- You don’t own the bike: The original owner still holds the legal title to the bike.2 You have no legal right to keep it.
- The police can confiscate it: When the police find the stolen bike, they will take it to return it to its rightful owner.
- You’re out of pocket: The person who sold you the bike committed a crime, and you are unlikely to get your money back from them, especially if they are difficult to trace. You may have a legal right to a refund under consumer law, but pursuing this can be a difficult and expensive process.
What to Do If You Suspect You’ve Bought a Stolen Bike
If you realise that a bike you’ve bought might be stolen, the most important thing is to stop using it immediately and contact the police. Do not attempt to return it to the seller yourself.
- Report it to the police: Explain the situation and provide them with all the details you have, including the seller’s information and any receipts or communication you have. They will give you a crime reference number.
- Hand the bike over: The police will take the bike to return it to its owner.
- Seek a refund: You can use the crime reference number as proof to try and get your money back from the seller. If you paid by card, you may be able to go through your bank.
The best way to avoid this whole situation is to be a careful buyer. Always check the bike’s serial number against a stolen bike database like Stolen Bike Register and Bike Checker before you buy. If the seller can’t or won’t provide the serial number, it’s a huge red flag and you should walk away.
