Stolen bike in flat hallway

[Scotrail12]

I've had my bike parked in the hallway outside my flat for a while now, it's a bit too bulky for my flat so tied it up there. Not had any issues until now. When I went out a couple of hours ago, I noticed it was gone however whoever had taken it had left my cable lock on the floor and had obviously cut through the cable to take the bike (since it was still locked and would have needed a key to unlock otherwise).

My flat hallway is difficult to get into with both a front door on the ground floor which requires a key fob to get through and then you have to enter a code in the lift lobby area on my floor in order to access the hallway. Therefore I can't see it being any random thief off the street, it has to be someone who has had access to the building in the last 24 hours.

It seems a bit odd, what do you reckon happened to it? I'm thinking of filing a police report.

 

[hexagon789]

I've had my bike parked in the hallway outside my flat for a while now, it's a bit too bulky for my flat so tied it up there. Not had any issues until now. When I went out a couple of hours ago, I noticed it was gone however whoever had taken it had left my cable lock on the floor and had obviously cut through the cable to take the bike (since it was still locked and would have needed a key to unlock otherwise).

My flat hallway is difficult to get into with both a front door on the ground floor which requires a key fob to get through and then you have to enter a code in the lift lobby area on my floor in order to access the hallway. Therefore I can't see it being any random thief off the street, it has to be someone who has had access to the building in the last 24 hours.

It seems a bit odd, what do you reckon happened to it? I'm thinking of filing a police report.

File a report definitely, it may not help in the long run but I would say it's still worth doing.

Was it insured? If it was, insurers will often want a crime number.

(My sympathies to you as well; not nice having something of your own stolen like that.)

 

[DynamicSpirit]

My sympathies too. That's a horrible thing to have happen to you. I know I'd feel awful if that happened to me. And it's utterly despicable on the part of whoever did it.

I'd certainly report it to the police, and - depending how many people live in the flats that have access to that area - knock on their doors to mention it and find out if they've seen anything (Apart from anything else, it's good to be on good term with your neighbours, and I imagine they'd be concerned about thefts in 'their' lobby area too). And if it's a rented property, make sure the landlord is aware too.

 

[Gloster]

It is worth reporting it, although there is little chance that the police will do anything active. But if they do come across it, particularly if there is something identifying it, you might get it back.

 

[DelayRepay]

Is it possible that the building managers have removed it? Some buildings have rules about not putting bikes etc in hallways due to potentially blocking fire escapes. Although I would have expected them to send a note or knock on your door first.

 

[jon0844]

I would also speak to the management company, although as DelayRepay says, I'd have expected a note to be put somewhere nearby or a newsletter given to tenants. Perhaps it was another tenant?

In almost all cases, putting a bike in a communal hallway in a block of flats is extremely dangerous and quite possibly illegal? I suggest if you get a new bike, you keep it somewhere else so as not to potentially endanger lives!

I know councils take action against this and have been much stricter since things like Grenfell, where fire doors are now inspected regularly (and similar action taken for anyone propping them open).

 

[Iskra]

Is it possible that the building managers have removed it? Some buildings have rules about not putting bikes etc in hallways due to potentially blocking fire escapes. Although I would have expected them to send a note or knock on your door first.

This. It shouldn’t really have been there in the first place. Although you would think they would try to resolve the matter amicably before resorting to removing it. Fire safety in flats at the moment is an extremely hot topic. It may simply have been stored somewhere until the owner comes forward, so contacting the building management would be the first course of action.

 

[skyhigh]

Is it possible that the building managers have removed it? Some buildings have rules about not putting bikes etc in hallways due to potentially blocking fire escapes. Although I would have expected them to send a note or knock on your door first.

That was my first thought.

 

[Hadders]

Sorry to hear about your bike.

I'd speak to the management company to check if they've removed it
If they haven't removed it then report the incident to the police
Is there CCTV convering the entrance, if so this could be useful to the police
It might be worth asking the management company if the access control system records entries to the building, this information could also be useful to the police. It might also be worth trying to find out how up to date the database of people authorised to enter the nuilding is. For example does someone who moved out still have a fob and able to access the builing. In my experience access control systems are often littered with people who should've had their access removed years before!

 

[Bletchleyite]

That was my first thought.

Mine too. Personal items can't be left in communal spaces in flats, unless dedicated for that purpose e.g. a car park or a bike rack. This has become very strict post Grenfell and for good reason too. It also stops communal areas looking scruffy with residents' unwanted junk.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2023 ==

This. It shouldn’t really have been there in the first place. Although you would think they would try to resolve the matter amicably before resorting to removing it. Fire safety in flats at the moment is an extremely hot topic. It may simply have been stored somewhere until the owner comes forward, so contacting the building management would be the first course of action.

It is such a hot topic that "remove first, ask questions later" is very often the policy now.

 

[jon0844]

It might be worth adding that leaving flammable materials, which might be something as simple as Amazon packaging, is also a big no no.

There should be nothing left in communal areas at all.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It might be worth adding that leaving flammable materials, which might be something as simple as Amazon packaging, is also a big no no.

Doormats and wreathes are a very common feature on the likes of Angry People in Local Newspapers from people who don't get that to be effective the rule has to be clear and strictly enforced. Though I think removing an Amazon package left by a courier on the doorstep which isn't going to remain there for any length of time would genuinely be overzealous.

 

[jon0844]

Doormats and wreathes are a very common feature on the likes of Angry People in Local Newspapers from people who don't get that to be effective the rule has to be clear and strictly enforced. Though I think removing an Amazon package left by a courier on the doorstep which isn't going to remain there for any length of time would genuinely be overzealous.

When I lived in a flat, I had a secondary door that was the fire door. I had a doormat and occasionally the postman left a package there.

If it was on the other side of the fire door, I can fully understand someone having a zero tolerance policy - even if years ago people turned a blind eye.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When I lived in a flat, I had a secondary door that was the fire door. I had a doormat and occasionally the postman left a package there.

If it was on the other side of the fire door, I can fully understand someone having a zero tolerance policy - even if years ago people turned a blind eye.

In the vast majority of newer developments there's a single fire door. People did turn a blind eye for years, but then there was Grenfell and now they don't.

 

[Edsmith]

One of my neighbours had a bike stolen and within a few hours of reporting it to the police they had the bike back and the thief was banged to rights, I know it doesn't always work out like that but the old adage about police don't bother isn't always right either so I would certainly report it. This certainly isn't a victimless crime and I think for that reason the police may take it more seriously, good luck.

 

[Jimini]

There should be nothing left in communal areas at all.

This.

The management company at our complex are sh*t hot on this, and the 24hr security guys will indeed remove first and ask questions later. Only thing that is a little odd is that you didn’t get a slip or something through your letterbox, or email from the concierge team telling you off and letting you know where to collect it from!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

This.

Only thing that is a little odd is that you didn’t get a slip or something through your letterbox, or email from the concierge team telling you off and letting you know where to collect it from!

If this was indeed the case, maybe they aren't aware just which resident is the "rogue" bicycle's owner.