I am a college student. About 2 weeks ago my bike was stolen from the rack in my dorm. It's a rather unique bike and has my initials engraved into the metal in 2 different places.
I filed a police report the day it was stolen but about 3 days ago the report was marked as '06A - suspended/closed indefinitely' and apparently this means the investigation has permanently stopped unless more evidence arises.
This morning I was walking on campus and I stumbled on what looked to be my bike, tied to the balcony railing of someone else's dorm with a helmet that wasn't mine hanging from the handlebar.
I went up closer to it and examined it, and sure enough, there were my initials engraved into the metal.
There was absolutely no doubt that this was my stolen bike. So I just untied it and took the bike back and rode off. I left the helmet there as it was (presumably) the thief's.
Is this considered theft? I believe the area is under surveillance, so is it possible I will be arrested? I live in Arizona if that's relevant.
Just make sure that you report its recovery to the police, so you don't get hassled about being on a stolen bike.
No. But call the cops and tell them you recovered your property.
I want to poke at something others seem to have missed.
'and apparently this means the investigation has permanently stopped unless more evidence arises....'
Dude, you found more evidence. I can't promise you the cops will do anything at all. But.... you found your bike at a particular address and that is more evidence. You might be swinging the door open for someone else to recover property. Please report it. It is the right thing to do and you have nothing to fear.
No. Theft is defined as having an intent to deprive the rightful owner of their property. Even if you were mistaken about who the owner of this bike is (which you definitely aren't), the fact that you never intended anything other than to take back your stolen bike would be a defense. I would report to the police that you now have found your bike and took it back, and tell them where it was.
You repossessed the bike, you didn’t steal it. That’s how almost all bikes make it back to their owners, the police almost never do anything. Call them and let them know you have it back and that should be the end of it.
My daughter's bike was stolen in college. She filed a police report. She spotted the bike on campus a few weeks later and called the police to say “hey I see my bike” they told her there was nothing they could do and her best bet was to just take it back. She took it back.