My brompton stolen :(

[cwah]

Hey guys,

I just had my brompton stolen tonight... I never thought it would happen... I actually never thought it would happen this way...

The story:
There was a guy who had an electric bike battery who contacted me to help him find a new charger for his bike. So I helped him for that and managed to get him a new one and changed the connector.

When he saw my bike, he was really excited, and wanted to try it. He told me he loved it so much that he wanted a similar bike too.


We discussed for months... he was for me a friend. We were talking a lot about ebike, and he wanted me to help him make one.

He also asked me to help him repair a bike from one of his friend, the bosch sinus B3:

Because I'm going back to london in a few days, I decided to give him back the bike tonight and he would just pay me back the cost of the battery and the seat.

Meanwhile he asked me if he can test my Brompton:

So I took it and let him play along... he was so happy about it and gave me so many compliments...

Then he asked me to show him my Kona stinky and a bottle of water. I went to my flat, took the bike, and he disappeared.

His mobile is not working anymore....


I'm so shocked I can't even think properly, how can something like this happen in Paris??? We live in a developed country and people can't make living out of "(dis)trust"??? I've been stolen because I trusted someone?? how could that BE POSSIBLE??? How can someone PLAN FOR MONTHS for such petty thing?

If you ever see one of these 2 bikes, they are both STOLEN. And the brompton is so bespoke he's not going to sell it at good price.

 

[103Alex1]

That's pretty awful cwah.

If you ever see one of these 2 bikes, they are both STOLEN. And the brompton is so bespoke he's not going to sell it at good price.

This happened in Paris ?

 

[cwah]

I'm having a bug in my head.

I understand thieves cutting locks on the street....

But I would have never thought it would happen from someone planning it for MONTHS. He played so much friendship, and for so long, I don't understand anymore how human relationships are supposed to be..

Yes happened in paris.

 

[103Alex1]

"Grooming" is a cruel but widely used tactic of con artists and more sinister criminal types too.

I hope there is still an outside chance something happened and the guy will be back in touch with an explanation - perhaps he got carried away and crashed it or something.

Otherwise it's a lesson hard learned about the ignoble side of human nature ! You have his name and contact details presumably ... if he does not return I guess you should still file a police report ?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That's made me feel really bad too, Cwah. I thought that there was a chance of it getting stolen in Paris, but I was also thinking of a low-life with a set of bolt croppers. Unfortunately, in this world is every type of person. Some would take a lot more than your bike once they have your confidence.

 

[Scimitar]

That's a really crappy thing to happen, but yes, some people just can't be trusted. I'd not be surprised if he cultivated the friendship until he saw something worth taking, then acted. Fortunately, most people aren't like that.

 

[cwah]

that had NEVER EVER happened to me before.

I mean, if I was living in Africa or Russia, I would understand that. I hear these kind of story quite often.

His number is 0651216487. The worse thing is that the only thing I've found by googling his phone number is a muslim religious book...

Unfortunately I don't have enough details about him to track him. I usually try to find people surname...

 

[patpatbut]

Hi Cwah

So sorry about your lost. I wish you can get your bike and money back...

I believe you still have the black brompton around to get you back on the road...

Pat

 

[cwah]

my black brompton has a dead Mac

And no more battery now

 

[patpatbut]

I think the best thing to do is reporting to the police and checking second bike web site even ebay paris.

Do not lose the faith yet.

Maybe you can take this chance to focus on other projects. I really like your builds as you always make something that people has never done it before

Pat

 

[cwah]

yeah I have not much choice anyway....

I'm wondering why he still took my brompton. It's so bespoke that anyone using it would immediately be recognized.

He can't sell it as normal brompton as frame has been extensively modified. The bike doesn't have a BMS so risk of fire is high too....

I'm messaging him to try him get me back at least the brompton with all these warnings but he is ignoring me

 

[Clockwise]

With some luck you see them ride towards you one day and can clothesline them off.

 

[Geebee]

It is the same number, maybe approach the police with the contact number and web site as they site should be able to provide the users name etc., explain that he stole the bikes and hope they are interested in solving the matter.

 

[cwah]

this is new year and I'm going back to london in a few days... I'm not even sure it would be of any help to file a police report....

this is a lesson of life, do not trust people, even when you know them for months... I'm so sad about it

 

[Dynamic Position]

Sorry hear about your Brompton being stolen in Paris. I too think you should contact the police as they have the ability to track the mobile phone. I am presuming the natioality of the thief to be French? Would also be worth giving details to UK police on your return as they could work with Interpol. Heres hoping your Brompton is recovered soon.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi cwah,

Firstly, I'm really sorry to hear about your bike being stolen and I can understand your sadness.

Unfortunately, here in the UK when it comes to crime, bicycle theft has a very low priority, the police don't have the resources to hunt for stolen bikes and I would imagine the situation in France is similar, especially a large city like Paris.

However the worst part of this is being deceived and cheated by someone that you thought was a friend.

Certainly not a nice way to end the year, lets hope that you will have a better 2014.

 

[Cyclezee]

Just one thought cwah,

If you are a member, you could post a thread here e.bike.free.fr

Having had a second look, that forum looks like it is dormant.

 

[mike killay]

CWAH
report the theft in Paris.
My local Police station often sells off 50-100 bikes that have been stolen but not reported so they don't know who the owners are. You never know, your bike may get abandoned somewhere.

Also, I am always suspicious of people who have an electric bike but no charger.

 

[cwah]

yeah I have to go...

but it's the 31st now and I wanted to have fun. I don't want to waste my NYE because of them

will do that tomorrow...

 

[eHomer]

.......this is a lesson of life, do not trust people, even when you know them for months... (

Don't lose faith in the other 99% of people that you know Cwah, or the thief that stole your Brompton has taken something far more precious from you.

I can well understand the shock of such a long term acquaintance stealing from you, but hopefully it's a once in a lifetime occurrence.