The Way This Mom Got Back Her Stolen Bike From The Thief After Police Refused To Help Is Brilliant
This 44-year-old mom has become an inspiration for Londoners who have been wronged by bike thieves. Recently, Sharron Jenson has taken upon herself to get back her $915 bike after police closed the case due to ‘lack of evidence.’ And she went full undercover detective mode to do so, too.
Just days after her bicycle got stolen from her local high street, Sharron found an ad for it on Gumtree. “[The police told me] to contact the guy, but not to go see him on my own. They said to stall him and tell them, and they could see if someone could go with me to get it,” she said.
Despite getting the thief’s first name, his address and phone number, the authorities refused to help her. “All information was reviewed and it was decided that there was insufficient information to proceed with an investigation,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.
Jenson, however, couldn’t give up. Posing as a potential buyer, she then bought a cheap sim card and contacted the seller, scheduling a ‘test drive.’ “It has made me realize how bad the state of policing is here,” Jenson said. “It’s unbelievable that victims of crimes are having to investigate and then collect their own stolen items. And then nothing is done still. It makes me so angry.”
The housewife went alone to meet the thief. “We met elsewhere and walked to the house. He asked me multiple times to go into the house but I said no,” she added. “It was really frightening. I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ I know he’s only a bike thief, but here I was confronting him. I was really nervous.”
She identified that the bike was indeed hers and asked if she could ride it. Jenson even thought to leave the thief with an empty handbag she had brought along as a decoy. “I was thinking, ‘This is so dangerous,’ but I knew it was my only chance. I cycled away and got to the corner and thought, ‘It’s now or never.'”
She pedaled harder and harder and went faster and faster. “I saw he wasn’t following me and just kept going.”
Jenson found safety in a corner shop, where the staff kept her bike while she fetched her car. Eventually, the thief understood what was happening. He texted her, demanding to bring the bike back and then later called – but laughed and hung up immediately after she said the bike was hers.
(h/t dailymail)
Recently, Sharron Jenson lost her $915 bike to a bike thief
However, she found an ad for the bike on Gumtree just days later and contacted the police
They, however, refused to help due to ‘lack of evidence’ even though Jenson provided the name, address and phone number of the thief
Sharon decided to take matters into her own hands and messaged the ‘seller’ posing as a potential buyer
She identified that the bike was indeed hers and asked for a test ride: “I saw he wasn’t following me and just kept going”
The thief texted her, demanding to bring the bike back and then later called
But laughed and hung up immediately after she said the bike was hers
“No wonder criminals think they can get away with it – because they can”
People had a lot to say about Sharon’s struggles
286Kviews
Share on FacebookIs it odd to anyone else that the title specifically said that she was a mom? Why does that even need to be said? There's literally no need to say it, would this be less of an impressive story if she was a single childless person??
I always see this c**p! I guess it humanizes people in one word which makes stuff get more clicks. But it also looks so dumb- mom gets back bike with one weird trick u won’t believe!
Load More Replies...Happened to a friend in London as well. Luckily, she had a custom handlebar installed and managed to prove it to the police by showing an old picture. The police took action. So yeah, it's not really the police not wanting to do their job, but rather police wanting to do their job properly. If she has no way to prove that the bike is hers, then tough luck...
bob Exactly. A friend of mine just got his bike stolen, and the police wouldn't do anything because he couldn't provide the serial number of the frame. But there's no way there could be another bike like that because he bought it abroad and changed and tuned a lot of things on it. But still they couldn't do anything when he didn't have the serial number.
Load More Replies...Anything is possible if you put your mind to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IAtEQcQ7hI
Load More Replies...This is not the full story. that is actually worse than it appears here from the police point of view. Full story is here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6245563/Woman-44-turns-detective-steals-700-bicycle.html Tells you all you need to know about current British policing. I'm surprised she wasn't charged with wasting police time, trying to get them to do something. If it isn't someone who has been 'offended' by something or someone, or a perceived 'hate crime', they don't want to know.
What if in fact it was just a similar bike and she stole someone's bike? :)
If that was true than the seller would have gone to the police etc, but I bet when they heard it was her and they knew it was her bike they ended their threat of police involvement
Load More Replies...I once “stole” my bike from a city bike parking, I happened to have the police report with me, because that would given me a discount on a second hand bike. Saw my bike, with my broken lock and my 2 different handles (Like, the chance it was somebody else’s were zero) asked the employee of the parking for assistance and he helped me getting my bike home. That was great! Still have it!
I have a motorbike and I don't take chances. I got the best alarmed locks, GPS tracker, tagging and chain that money can buy. But if a thief really wants it, they will undoubtedly find a way of taking it.
We had this happen to an American College student. She saw an ad on Craigslist selling her bike that had been stolen. She offered to meet the thief in a parking lot (had a friend drive her there). She told the thief she had to take it for a test drive. She drove rode off on the bike. Sucks when the person you stole a bike from steals it back.
Regardless of Tory austerity and complaints of bad policing this woman was very brave. All I can say is well done for taking the power back and taking your awesome bike back!
Cops are worthless. And please don't give me c**p about their dangerous job or budget cuts. Here in St. Paul the cops sit on their butts all day, refuse to take reports, show up hours late, but manage to shoot certain types of unarmed people regularly. As for dangerous jobs, cop doesn't even make the top ten.
I've had two bicycles stolen and wish I did the same (albeit I did look for it on Craigslist and near homeless encampments). A friend had this Xtracycle Cargo bike stolen - he needed it for work as he is an LMT and it's very expensive $2k-$3k). Reported it to the police, saying they knew where it was (they had found it): police did nothing. So they (him and a few friends) went to the place, called the police and said they were going to take back the bike using any means possible: two police cars showed up within 10 minutes.
It pretty much sucks everywhere (when it comes to bicycle theft , especially in San Francisco, Calif). After I got my very expensive bicycle stolen, police called me two months later to confirm the description of the bike (after I filed the report). I told them to eff off. Ha ha... not the same exact words but def said "Seriously, why are you even bother calling me at this point?"
Load More Replies...In Australia if you report something stolen you will be handed a record of your report and be told to claim it on your insurance. If the police recovered all stolen property nobody would buy insurance, sad but true.
Yeah....I cannot imagine why a crime would be of concern to the police. There are other agencies that deal with crime, right? The Library Association, the Historical Society, the Tourist Bureau, the Audubon Society????? Damn, there must be a group responsible for looking into crimes!!!!
So like 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore' except less blood shed!
Same exact thing has happened before--in Vancouver, Canada in 2013, and in Boulder, CO in 2011--two different women had their bikes stolen and found them for sale on Craigslist. They went to the thieves' homes and did the same as this lady. Got to keep their bikes, too. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/woman-finds-stolen-bike-on-craigslist-vancouver_n_3817727.html
Not sure there is something similar everywhere, we have trackers for valuable saddles, the equestrian ones. Since they can be worth a few thousands, a company started producing trackers and there are even fake ones : if a thief see there's a tracker, it can't be sold (even with evidence it was removed), so fake ones work as well. Looks like a big button.
There's a good book by the pseudonym P.C. David Copperfield called "Wasting Police Time" published in 2006 by Monday Books. I recommend Brits to read it.
I'll admit it's been awhile since I was a little girl, but when I received a new bike from my Grandmother, she took a Polaroid of me standing next to it. (Bear with me). She then wrapped that picture in plastic and placed it under my seat. When the bike got stolen a few months later, all we had to do was ask the police to look under the seat. Since this kids' Dad had INSISTED he'd purchased the bike he was charged (I was 8 and overheard the conversation, so I'm fuzzy on details). You can only protect your property so much, but in this day & age there is SO much you can do about proving it's yours in the first place. Take a picture next to your big a*s TV with the serial number showing, ALWAYS register a new phone, etc.
I like the way she takes it from the thug LIKE A QUEEN!!! Hahahahaha Priceless....
No wonder that vigilianteism is and taking the law into your hands are on the up, when the police does nothing in cases that are pure black and white, and they are handed the criminal on a silver plate, yet, refuse to help. Police does not seem to serve the people anymore. In the UK, they have about 1 officer per 460 ppl now, compared to one in about 1000 in the 50's, yet, they don't have the resources?
Police didn't "refuse" to help. Police have to decide where to send their already overstretched resources. So if it's a choice of a violent crime in progress or getting an overpriced bike back for someone then I know where I would like an officer to be.
What if she was not the thief but the person who bought from a thief with a good bargain? Would she still be right getting it back
No revenue in this for the police. It's why they focus on motoring offences and any situation they can invoke Civil Forfeiture.
yeah see I wonder exactly why the police were unable to help, if she had no proof of purchase and had not registered the serial number then she has no way to prove the bike is hers. I had my scooter stolen from outside my house and returned to me within 24 hours, and they took 4 hours to arrive due to the staffing issues, but still got the job done and my things back.
why not vote in different government if you're unhappy with what you have?
The List with Naked Womens froom your City has beeen released Here on : huit.re/womens
What was the point in adding, "the police refused to help" if the story didn't involve the police at all? She literally took matters into her own hands. Police weren't involved.
You NEVER, EVER let your SSN show ANYWHERE but the bank and the IRS. Unless you want your identity stolen.
Load More Replies...Is it odd to anyone else that the title specifically said that she was a mom? Why does that even need to be said? There's literally no need to say it, would this be less of an impressive story if she was a single childless person??
I always see this c**p! I guess it humanizes people in one word which makes stuff get more clicks. But it also looks so dumb- mom gets back bike with one weird trick u won’t believe!
Load More Replies...Happened to a friend in London as well. Luckily, she had a custom handlebar installed and managed to prove it to the police by showing an old picture. The police took action. So yeah, it's not really the police not wanting to do their job, but rather police wanting to do their job properly. If she has no way to prove that the bike is hers, then tough luck...
bob Exactly. A friend of mine just got his bike stolen, and the police wouldn't do anything because he couldn't provide the serial number of the frame. But there's no way there could be another bike like that because he bought it abroad and changed and tuned a lot of things on it. But still they couldn't do anything when he didn't have the serial number.
Load More Replies...Anything is possible if you put your mind to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IAtEQcQ7hI
Load More Replies...This is not the full story. that is actually worse than it appears here from the police point of view. Full story is here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6245563/Woman-44-turns-detective-steals-700-bicycle.html Tells you all you need to know about current British policing. I'm surprised she wasn't charged with wasting police time, trying to get them to do something. If it isn't someone who has been 'offended' by something or someone, or a perceived 'hate crime', they don't want to know.
What if in fact it was just a similar bike and she stole someone's bike? :)
If that was true than the seller would have gone to the police etc, but I bet when they heard it was her and they knew it was her bike they ended their threat of police involvement
Load More Replies...I once “stole” my bike from a city bike parking, I happened to have the police report with me, because that would given me a discount on a second hand bike. Saw my bike, with my broken lock and my 2 different handles (Like, the chance it was somebody else’s were zero) asked the employee of the parking for assistance and he helped me getting my bike home. That was great! Still have it!
I have a motorbike and I don't take chances. I got the best alarmed locks, GPS tracker, tagging and chain that money can buy. But if a thief really wants it, they will undoubtedly find a way of taking it.
We had this happen to an American College student. She saw an ad on Craigslist selling her bike that had been stolen. She offered to meet the thief in a parking lot (had a friend drive her there). She told the thief she had to take it for a test drive. She drove rode off on the bike. Sucks when the person you stole a bike from steals it back.
Regardless of Tory austerity and complaints of bad policing this woman was very brave. All I can say is well done for taking the power back and taking your awesome bike back!
Cops are worthless. And please don't give me c**p about their dangerous job or budget cuts. Here in St. Paul the cops sit on their butts all day, refuse to take reports, show up hours late, but manage to shoot certain types of unarmed people regularly. As for dangerous jobs, cop doesn't even make the top ten.
I've had two bicycles stolen and wish I did the same (albeit I did look for it on Craigslist and near homeless encampments). A friend had this Xtracycle Cargo bike stolen - he needed it for work as he is an LMT and it's very expensive $2k-$3k). Reported it to the police, saying they knew where it was (they had found it): police did nothing. So they (him and a few friends) went to the place, called the police and said they were going to take back the bike using any means possible: two police cars showed up within 10 minutes.
It pretty much sucks everywhere (when it comes to bicycle theft , especially in San Francisco, Calif). After I got my very expensive bicycle stolen, police called me two months later to confirm the description of the bike (after I filed the report). I told them to eff off. Ha ha... not the same exact words but def said "Seriously, why are you even bother calling me at this point?"
Load More Replies...In Australia if you report something stolen you will be handed a record of your report and be told to claim it on your insurance. If the police recovered all stolen property nobody would buy insurance, sad but true.
Yeah....I cannot imagine why a crime would be of concern to the police. There are other agencies that deal with crime, right? The Library Association, the Historical Society, the Tourist Bureau, the Audubon Society????? Damn, there must be a group responsible for looking into crimes!!!!
So like 'I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore' except less blood shed!
Same exact thing has happened before--in Vancouver, Canada in 2013, and in Boulder, CO in 2011--two different women had their bikes stolen and found them for sale on Craigslist. They went to the thieves' homes and did the same as this lady. Got to keep their bikes, too. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/woman-finds-stolen-bike-on-craigslist-vancouver_n_3817727.html
Not sure there is something similar everywhere, we have trackers for valuable saddles, the equestrian ones. Since they can be worth a few thousands, a company started producing trackers and there are even fake ones : if a thief see there's a tracker, it can't be sold (even with evidence it was removed), so fake ones work as well. Looks like a big button.
There's a good book by the pseudonym P.C. David Copperfield called "Wasting Police Time" published in 2006 by Monday Books. I recommend Brits to read it.
I'll admit it's been awhile since I was a little girl, but when I received a new bike from my Grandmother, she took a Polaroid of me standing next to it. (Bear with me). She then wrapped that picture in plastic and placed it under my seat. When the bike got stolen a few months later, all we had to do was ask the police to look under the seat. Since this kids' Dad had INSISTED he'd purchased the bike he was charged (I was 8 and overheard the conversation, so I'm fuzzy on details). You can only protect your property so much, but in this day & age there is SO much you can do about proving it's yours in the first place. Take a picture next to your big a*s TV with the serial number showing, ALWAYS register a new phone, etc.
I like the way she takes it from the thug LIKE A QUEEN!!! Hahahahaha Priceless....
No wonder that vigilianteism is and taking the law into your hands are on the up, when the police does nothing in cases that are pure black and white, and they are handed the criminal on a silver plate, yet, refuse to help. Police does not seem to serve the people anymore. In the UK, they have about 1 officer per 460 ppl now, compared to one in about 1000 in the 50's, yet, they don't have the resources?
Police didn't "refuse" to help. Police have to decide where to send their already overstretched resources. So if it's a choice of a violent crime in progress or getting an overpriced bike back for someone then I know where I would like an officer to be.
What if she was not the thief but the person who bought from a thief with a good bargain? Would she still be right getting it back
No revenue in this for the police. It's why they focus on motoring offences and any situation they can invoke Civil Forfeiture.
yeah see I wonder exactly why the police were unable to help, if she had no proof of purchase and had not registered the serial number then she has no way to prove the bike is hers. I had my scooter stolen from outside my house and returned to me within 24 hours, and they took 4 hours to arrive due to the staffing issues, but still got the job done and my things back.
why not vote in different government if you're unhappy with what you have?
The List with Naked Womens froom your City has beeen released Here on : huit.re/womens
What was the point in adding, "the police refused to help" if the story didn't involve the police at all? She literally took matters into her own hands. Police weren't involved.
You NEVER, EVER let your SSN show ANYWHERE but the bank and the IRS. Unless you want your identity stolen.
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