Cyclist buys his stolen bike back on Gumtree after police fail to act

Richardson sounds like an utter turd:
"We can only apologise if the complainers feel that our service on this occasion did not meet their expectations"

What a stupid statement. 

Note to self; don't buy new bike, then rely on a lock to secure it to railings outside..

That is appalling the Police should have been very keen to help. Many years ago my cousin was at Portsmouth polytechnic when hi bike was stolen. Two weeks later he was contacted by Plymouth's police force to say they had his bike. He went on the train and retrieved his bike. On returning to Portsmouth as he was leaving the station he was arrested for stealing his own bike. In order to prove his identity he called his dad who said he would come down the next day. My cousin spent a night in the cells for stealing his own bike,what a difference 40 years makes.

That is pretty poor service from the plod. However, when my bike was knicked off the top of my car (on my drive! 🤬) - Beds Police sent an officer around the next day who dusted the whole car for prints. No chance of ever getting it back - but they tried.

"Chief Inspector Scott Richardson of Police Scotland told the newspaper: “We can only apologise if the complainers feel that our service on this occasion did not meet their expectations."

That's not an apology! "Sorry you were offended" is not an apology. I think everyone hearing the details of this will agree that not only did your "service" not meet the victim's expectations, but it also didn't meet the bare minimum standards for you to be a police force.

I think most people have covered the bases on the average police response to stolen bikes,just remember their priorities are set by the PCC who in England & Wales at least are up for election in two weeks time.

But I just wanted to tackle the £300 quote for new wheels on a bike that cost £325 to begin with, as in surely it wasnt fitted with such wheels to begin with, appreciate these might be considered standard cost for reasonable quality wheels, but there must be cheaper budget alternatives ?

Just for a bit of police balance (I'm not in any way connected to the police), I have always found the response of my local police in Kingston Upon Thames incredibly good. I've had several bikes stolen from central Kingston, and I've always had immediate follow-up and help. I've even had stolen bikes recovered, as long as you record the bike on Bke Register, the police appear to actively search this. I'd say the bigger problem is with the auction sites. I can't peak for Gumtree, but both Facebook Marketplace and eBay, to my mind, put up as many barriers as they can to retrieving stolen goods. I'm not surprised the police consider these thefts a lost cause.

Chief Inspector Scott Richardson of Police Scotland told the newspaper: “We can only apologise if the complainers feel that our service on this occasion did not meet their expectations. With regard to the theft of the bike, our enquiries are ongoing.”

"complainers"

"feel that our service on this occasion did not meet their expectations."

Jeez....

I still believe that most of the people who join the police do so with positive intent - to help the community they live in.

That said, it's starting to feel like there's a systemic issue with the culture and leadership of many forces - even simple crimes are ignored and the public are left fending for themselves whilst the police sit behind desks effectively saying "not my job". 

Plenty of criminologists have made a convicning case for targetting low level crime due to the effect it can have on reducing more serious crime - but many police forces in the UK seem to systematically ignore this.

In my local area there's a significant problem with people on electric scooters "close passing at speed" people walking in parks / on the pavement. Additionally most of the deliveroo riders appear to have modified their bikes with motor kits that allow them to travel 25-30mph without pedalling - often doing so without lights at night. After 2 near misses in 5 minutes a few weeks back I encountered 3 x Policeman wandering along the street. I asked them why they weren't doing anything about the illegal bikes or scooter use and pointed out the deliveroo rider on an illegal bike  that had just passed them (no lights, not peddling - still doing around 30 mph).

They told me they didn't have "enough room" to store seized electric bikes so there was nothing they could do. The mindset very much seems to be one of "can't be bothered" and presumably it will take a few serious accidents before they act - yet they have the powers to seize illegal vehicles immediately. 

Honestly, by now I would have thought that people had realised that bike theft is no longer a crime. It's never investigated and even when the cops have a slam-dunk arrest they can't be bothered.

If you were stupid enough to take matters into your own hands, then you would end up being prosecuted and having to pay the scum-bags compensation.

Useless police as usual. 

Unfortunately a typical police response.

The cyclist now knows where the theft (or maybe just the seller) lives.
I'd be smashing all their windows on a semi regular basis, with my new found catapult skills, until I thought the "debt" had been paid.