Question
we had a bike stolen from our store we allowed a customer to test ride a bike on our bike path on our property while with our employee. he while momentarily distracted the customer stole our bike, he rode off on it. insurance denied the claim saying we relinquished title and ownership to this customer. i say wrong since we never have up our title of the bike and never gave up our ownership of it. help me please am i right
Answer
Sorry, but for claim purposes only, I agree with your insurance company. Simply, you gave the 'thief' access to the bike.
The responsibility was on you, either directly or through your agent (employee) to control that access. You didn't. The fact that that he didn't return it is not 'theft' for insurance purposes.
Don't misunderstand, this does not limit your claim with the police in reporting this. Give them the name and address of the individual who took the bike and let them recover it and prosecute the individual. You did get his ID before you let him take it, didn't you??