'Aquiring' a new frame

In article <[email hidden]>
Mark Thompson

pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com said:

There's am old bike near me that's been abandoned for some weeks (at least)
after having the rear wheel and derailler nicked. It's and old, battered
frame and the front wheel is steel (spits). On the plus side it looks like
it would be suitable for turning into a fixie.

Maybe there was a problem with the derailleur and wheel, the owner took
them away to get replacements and hasn't yet had a chance to return.

Quoted message said:

Do I have any legal options for unlocking it with some bolt cutters? If I
can't do it legally, what're the panel's thoughts on whether the police are
likely to care about someone 'nicking' an obviously abandoned wreck?

They wouldn't care much if it was a good bike, but that doesn't mean
it's OK to take it. Best to contact the owner of the property where
it's been left, who probably has the right to remove it.

Mark Thompson said:

There's am old bike near me that's been abandoned for some weeks (at least)
after having the rear wheel and derailler nicked. It's and old, battered
frame and the front wheel is steel (spits). On the plus side it looks like
it would be suitable for turning into a fixie.

Do I have any legal options for unlocking it with some bolt cutters? If I
can't do it legally, what're the panel's thoughts on whether the police are
likely to care about someone 'nicking' an obviously abandoned wreck?

If you genuinely believe the bike to have been abandoned then
technically you can't steal it. You would have to be able to justify
your belief though.

Theft is defined as.

"Dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the
intention of permanently depriving the other of it's use"

No mens rea = no crime

However if it is locked in a public place it becomes the property of the
local council or their agents who have the authority to remove it. It
could then be stolen even though they may not specifically know it
exists or want it.

Bottom line is that even though I have often seen bikes in the same
place that have been clearly abandoned and could be re-cycled, forgive
the pun, or are disposed of as stolen/found property my better judgement
says the benefit of removing them is not worth the risk of
misunderstanding in the one case or allegations in the second.
Upsetting as it may be the best policy is to let it go to scrap.

Sniper8052

"Mark Thompson"
<pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There's am old bike near me that's been abandoned for some weeks (at
least)
after having the rear wheel and derailler nicked. It's and old, battered
frame and the front wheel is steel (spits). On the plus side it looks
like
it would be suitable for turning into a fixie.

Do I have any legal options for unlocking it with some bolt cutters? If I
can't do it legally, what're the panel's thoughts on whether the police
are
likely to care about someone 'nicking' an obviously abandoned wreck?

Is it on private or public space?

Why not leave a message on the bike asking the owner to contact you.
After a month if they don't, then take the bike - but leave a message where
the bike was, stating what you have done, and how you can be contacted.

Peter

Quoted message said:

Is it on private or public space?

A public space.

Quoted message said:

Why not leave a message on the bike asking the owner to contact you.
After a month if they don't, then take the bike - but leave a message
where the bike was, stating what you have done, and how you can be
contacted.

I'll prolly do something like that. Leaving a message afterwards is prolly
a good idea, and one I hadn't thought of. I'm certain the bike is
abandoned, so it's mostly in case some police wander over.

Mark Thompson said:

There's am old bike near me that's been abandoned for some weeks (at
least) after having the rear wheel and derailler nicked. It's and
old, battered frame and the front wheel is steel (spits). On the
plus side it looks like it would be suitable for turning into a fixie.

I'm thinking of doing something similar with this bike I saw today:
http://tinyurl.com/y5psdo . I'm sure it'd be fine once the wheels are
trued.

Would make a good replacement for my hack bike: http://tinyurl.com/ubheo .
Well, the colours are more tasteful anyway ;-)

(Photobucket pics)

~PB

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark Thompson said:

There's am old bike near me that's been abandoned for some weeks (at
least) after having the rear wheel and derailler nicked. It's and
old, battered frame and the front wheel is steel (spits). On the
plus side it looks like it would be suitable for turning into a fixie.

I'm thinking of doing something similar with this bike I saw today:
http://tinyurl.com/y5psdo . I'm sure it'd be fine once the wheels are
trued.

Would make a good replacement for my hack bike: http://tinyurl.com/ubheo .
Well, the colours are more tasteful anyway ;-)

(Photobucket pics)

~PB

Looks like it just needs a bit of gaffa tape on it.
Just make sure you adjust the angle of the saddle before sitting on it!
Peter

"Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...
SNIP

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking of doing something similar with this bike I saw today:
http://tinyurl.com/y5psdo . I'm sure it'd be fine once the wheels are
trued.

That could be passed off as modern art.

Dave