I bought a few used bikes over the years and used this website to check if they were stolen : [http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm ](http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm)
If the bike was declared stolen and the serial number given to the police, it will pop up there. Like Andrew said, sometimes the seller was clearly the owner and it was not a worry (I still checked the website afterwards), but it's easy to prepare the webpage on your phone and check the serial \# on the spot.
Another thing I've done is ask for a receipt with the serial number written on the receipt. It can be a simple piece of paper with a few details, but if it's stolen, the seller will probably refuse to do this paper right away. I'm always giving one when I'm selling expensive things and it feels better for both parties involved.
The receipt can also prove helpful if you cross the borders, as it happened to me that the customs officer asked me if I had the receipt of a used bike I used to travel with in my car. That's also true for new bikes or any object of value, but since they can keep the goods unless they see the proof of purchase, having this paper somewhere at home (or scanned on your phone) can be really helpful if that happens.
I've had a bike stolen from my garage in the past and now I am much more cautious when carrying, locking and storing my bikes.
March 25, 2021, 7:09 a.m. - Martin
I bought a few used bikes over the years and used this website to check if they were stolen : [http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm ](http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm) If the bike was declared stolen and the serial number given to the police, it will pop up there. Like Andrew said, sometimes the seller was clearly the owner and it was not a worry (I still checked the website afterwards), but it's easy to prepare the webpage on your phone and check the serial \# on the spot. Another thing I've done is ask for a receipt with the serial number written on the receipt. It can be a simple piece of paper with a few details, but if it's stolen, the seller will probably refuse to do this paper right away. I'm always giving one when I'm selling expensive things and it feels better for both parties involved. The receipt can also prove helpful if you cross the borders, as it happened to me that the customs officer asked me if I had the receipt of a used bike I used to travel with in my car. That's also true for new bikes or any object of value, but since they can keep the goods unless they see the proof of purchase, having this paper somewhere at home (or scanned on your phone) can be really helpful if that happens. I've had a bike stolen from my garage in the past and now I am much more cautious when carrying, locking and storing my bikes.