Me too. I have a three bikes aquired in the same way, left at the space where we recycle .
Trek 7100EX which is too big for me but had a good rack and mudguards
Specialized Hardrock sport which is perfect
and
Ridgeback MX 25 which had no seat or rear mech. Now fixed up and used to trash in Richmond Park by my grandson.
I reported all three to the police who weren't very interested, went back and reminded them 6 months later and was told they are now mine so I got that in writing and added them to the insurance. I'm still waiting for the "Oi! that's mine" moment though.
AND my wife says I can't rescue any more bikes.
quote='Kevin Dublin'Mark said:My parents found a bike a while ago and handed it into Lothian & Borders
police. They have now got it back as it was unclaimed so they gave it to
me. We get to keep it but if anyone claims it within the next year then
we have to give it back.
So, If anyone is missing a Ridgeback ladies bike, I may have it.
I acquired a mountain bike that way. Some chavs were throwing a bike
around in the allotments behind my house. They ran off and left it. I
recovered it; it still had a (cheap) cable lock around the back wheel -
that's why they were amusing themselves throwing it around rather than
riding it. I rang the police, gave them description of bike. No, don't
bring it to the Station, they said. I also made enquiries locally -
they couldn't have carried it far, but no luck. Rang police a few weeks
later - no, had not been reported stolen. It was in my garage for six
months. I fixed it up a bit; new chain and replaced bent handlebars and
brake leaver - and cut through the lock of course. I took it off to
France and left it at my place there to use as a run-around. I was
always nervous of riding it around locally in case one day someone
shouted "Oi! That’s my bike".[/QUOTE]