This summer seems to be a great time for thieves to steal a bicycle in Dallas, as a number of people we’ve heard are losing their rides, left and right. It’s never a good feeling and you find something that you could have done better to avoid the incident, however we’d like to offer those who have had their bicycles stolen some new information.
A friend of BFOC recently had his nice ride stolen, and so like many others he decided to hit up local pawn shops to hold onto that small glimmer of hope we all have. Well, he hit the jackpot, and found his bicycle. The pawn shop is the Cash Plus Pawn on I-30 & Dilido
If you have your serial numbers, it certainly makes it easier for you to identify your bicycle. Remember, pawn shops will make you pay for what they paid for it, if you find your bicycle. Also, for future reference, stop by your local bike shop for an inexpensive way to save yourself a ton of heart ache by purchasing a new lock. We recommend a U-Lock!
For listings of past stolen bicycles, click here! Also, learn more about how you can register your bicycle nationally, and tips on prevention.
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff 
Where do I find the serial number on my bicycle. Is it in the same location on all bikes?
Thise doesn’t seem right. Hot merch can be confiscated by the cops and given back to the rightful owner anytime. Is the issue that the victim has to have made a police report and identified the bike by serial number to get it back?
It’s really important to keep the numbers on your bike. If this person had reported their bike stolen with the serial number then the police would have known the day it was pawned. It’s 90 days from the time something is pawned until it is put up for sale, so hitting the pawn shops the day it is stolen is useless.
Once something is pawned then the serial number is entered into a computer that goes straight to the cops. Pawn shops are heavily regulated and make most of their money off of loans not stuff they sell. So no pawn shop is going to knowingly buy stolen property and risk getting shut down to make 50 bucks off a bicycle.
Once something of yours is found in the pawn shop you can either pay them what they paid out and get the item back, or you can go to a hearing and get it for free. takes longer that way, but you don’t have to pay the loan amount if you are willing to go the legal route.
When something is stolen, it’s far more likely that it will wind up on craigslist, or at a flea market.
If the person in the above story did report the bike stolen with serial, then they need to contact the police and find out why the pawn shop detail didn’t pick it up. Mistakes happen, YMMV
most of the time it’s underneath the bottom bracket. That’s where the down tube (from your saddle) meet’s the angle tube (from the front fork area). Turn it upside down and it should stamped into the frame
Steve, I’m the person whose bike was stolen and recovered.
The bike was pawned more quickly than a police officer came to my house to start the case. The shop is 1 mi from my house, they close at 9pm and the officer didn’t arrive at my house until close to 11pm. The officer definitely said that they would have a connection with the pawn shop and would be looking for the serial number. Do you have any idea how long that might take if I hadn’t taken the shortcut and delivered my flyers?
Interestingly enough, these thieves came back to the same shop this morning and sold them yet another “nice looking” bike (according to pawn shop guy).
I won’t be able to talk to the detective on my case until Monday, hope to find out more then.
I’ve posted more details on Biking in Dallas: http://www.bikingindallas.com/the-case-of-the-missing-roubaix/