Seven men arrested and 20 bikes retrieved by police in Brick Lane operation

Folks, folks, come on, please. You go into a bike shop and buy a brand new bicycle. They take your details and you walk out with your new pride an joy. Every time you go back to that shop or chain of shops, they know who you are and where you live. Ask them for the frame number of the bike you bought and they wouldn't have a clue. This is where the cycle industry HAS to take a leaf out of the motor industries book. All motor vehicles have to have a 17 digit 'Vehicle Identification Number' stamped into them, one visible and one hidden. If bike frame numbers ere actually recorded at the point of sale, it would reduce the theft and increase the return rate of stolen bicycles. 'Marking Schemes' does not do anything more than the frame number already does. How many cycle owners actually have their bicycles insured separately or even know the frame number of their bike? So come on people, lets thwart the thieves and record the details of your bike.

Just wondering if my stolen bike, a Marin San Anselmo, Alfine hub geared hybrid, with a then brand new Brooks B17 Copper saddle, passed through the Brick Lane bike laundering mart, back in late 2011...
My fault, NEVER use cable locks, no matter how thick...

About 10 years ago I had to go to a police station in the area to report my passport lost and I mentioned to the copper then about the (soooo obviously stolen) bikes being sold. He said 'yeah, we know, we're already looking into it mate'

Must have been the bust of the century, what with it being 10 years in the planning and all.

The last time they broke up a Brick Lane operation it involved stolen to order Bromptons. The guy running it was a police officer.

Yes, while it's tempting to say "about time too" and "no sh*t Sherlock", at least they are doing something. And although picking up one bike stall and a few dodgy geezers isn't going to stop theft entirely, it's at least starting to disrupt the process.

Now, they could carry on by spot checking every bike on Gumtree for a month, that'd bring results.

Instead of knocking the police, I say well done and keep up the good work.

The Police should come down heavily on people buying stolen bikes from Brick Lane or car boot sales. Prominent posters should be displayed that emphasise how being busted for handing stolen goods could seriously damage job prospects - I say this because I bet a pound to a penny, that a lot of the people turning blind eyes have otherwise quite comfortable law abiding middle class lives.

At last

I find it really hard to walk up there some Sunday mornings when its so obvious that a bike is stolen that is being sold on the side of the street.

You can spot them a mile off, especially when the seller can't tell you anything about it when you ask.

When you tell them you think they are selling a stolen bike things can get out of hand quickly.

I'm very surprised the police haven't been on this a lot quicker.

Also - the cash exchange type pawnbroker shops in the suburbs - how on earth do they not get done - seeing an Italian classic road bike up for sale for just £400 with pump attached along with seat pack and spare inner tube still in it - you know someone somewhere has just lost their pride and joy.

I live 300 odd miles away and even I know that Brick Lane = stolen bikes. Another triumph for the Met...

A few Met officers (or possibly PSCOs) were registering bikes under the BikeRegister scheme outside Church of Christ the King at Byng Place while I was passing through on my way to the office a few weeks ago. They registered my Brompton for me.

Only taken them 10+yrs