Bike Index's July 2018 recoveries !

Hello there! What a month July was, let me tell ya' … it wore me out.

Here's how July 2018 panned out at the Bike Index:

  • We helped recover a stolen bike before it even got registered with us, via Twitter, because PDX folks are awesome
  • "Almost exactly one year ago my bike was stolen. Today I got it back!" (thanks to Bike Index)
  • More awesome bike shop recoveries: thanks Kenton Cycle Repair, Blazing Saddles Cleveland, WTFBikes (with an assist)
  • The good folks at King County Surplus recover a stolen Titanium Moots RSL ... when somebody abandoned it on a bus (!)
  • Boise PD - one of our newest law enforcement partners is making good recoveries! Keep it up, Boise!
  • Another stolen-bike-in-a-stolen-car scenario ... aka a 'stolen-bike turducken'
  • "... a group of people we knew messaged the guys through the day (probably gonna launch a detective agency soon to be honest)... "
  • We did a podcast! Check out "An Interview With Bike Index" over at thebestbikelock.com</li>
  • July's scoreboard: Offerup:5 Letgo:3 Craigslist:1Kijiji:1
    • </ul> Before we get started: Recall that Bike Index is a 501(c)(3) non profit. We love catching thieves and finding stolen bikes - but we could always use a little help. We would love it if you could donate to the Bike Index. Please help us keep these recoveries coming by donating here -- tax deductible, too! We would appreciate it hugely if you did. Now - onto the recoveries!
    "Steady_Eddie saw two kids with my bike and went well out of his way to recover it. A total miracle. I will definitely be donating to Bike Index!! I'm sitting here having a beer and staring at my bike in total disbelief ..." (BikeIndex notes we have no idea who Steady_Eddie is ... but hey, shout out to Steady_Eddie)
    2013 Felt F3 - recovered: July 1, 2018
    Original tip: "... your bike is on Offerup right now, been talking to the seller. name is (redacted)" Later, from the owner: "Thanks to an anonymous tip as a result of this posting I was able to track the guy down and get my bike back. Proves that there are good people left in the world. I did file a police report and there's a warrant for his arrest. I reported the bike as stolen and recovered on OfferUp. The kid who stole it was already in the system for another crime and think he didn't want to go back to jail. I just reasoned with him on the phone and he met me to give it back. In exchange I offered not to proceed with criminal charges. Hope this helps. I will definitely recommend this site to my bike community. Thanks!"
    GiantPique 2 - recovered: July 1, 2018
    This stunner old school Tommasini was recovered by an awesome local shop: "Hi, I'm the owner of Kenton Cycle Repair bike shop. Great news! I have your bike!! I would like to get it back to you!! I bought the bike from a "gentleman" who approached me asking about it's value and if I would like to buy it. Knowing it was stolen (but not certain this person had done the original theft) , I decided to buy it. I have it at my shop and would like to return it to you..."
    1987 Tommasini - recovered: July 5, 2018
    "Recovered: Pawn shop via Bike Index ..." (Curious why we help recover so many bikes in pawn shops? See "Bike Index Partners With Leadsonline!" )
    2016 Cannondale Synapse - recovered: July 9, 2018
    "I got a call from somebody who saw my posting on Bike Index. He said that he saw my bike behind his building across town. He sent me the location & I went and sure enough, it was mine ..."
    Centurion Cavaletto - recovered: July 9, 2018
    "Clackamas County deputy found it!" (Editor's note: Yes, this is the same Clackamas County deputy you keep reading about here in these monthly round-ups. The guy is the stolen-bike whisperer ...)
    2015 Novara Randonee - recovered: July 10, 2018
    "Local bike shop (Blazing Saddles) had the bike in for repairs and searched for the serial number on Bike Index. Bike showed up as stolen and LBS called me to return the bike!!!!"
    2015 Surly Straggler - recovered: July 11, 2018
    "The thief pawned my bike and the pawn shop reported it ... glad I filed the report!"
    2016 Diamondback Clarity 2 - recovered: July 8, 2018
    I (Bryan, with Bike Index) personally spotted this thing on Offerup ... "Hello here's a super sketch listing for a TOMMASO on Offerup let me know if it looks like yours". Later: "Thank you a million times. This was my bike, I contacted the non urgent police number and they assisted me in getting my bike back. I wouldn’t have seen this post if you hadn’t shared it. Thank you so so much! Portland Police were extremely helpful. I got ahold of the non-emergency and they sent an officer out to help. They didn't have to do much and they weren't there to get anyone in trouble, but it was nice to have the support walking into a sketch situation." Bike Index notes that not only is this seller account still ACTIVE on Offerup, but they're 'verified' by 'TruYou' on Offerup. Sigh ... why do we even bother ...
    Tommaso Imola - recovered: July 9, 2018
    "It was returned to my house ... " (Editor's note: No other details were provided)
    SE Bikes- recovered: July 12, 2018
    "Bike was left abandoned on a Metro Bus. I was contacted through Bike Index by the King County Surplus department ... " Bike Index would like to note WTF TITANIUM MOOTS JUST ABANDONED ON A BUS. DEAR GOD.
    Moots Cycles RSL - recovered: July 12, 2018
    "Hello - I have located a BLUE Axino frame." (Editor's note: this was one of the bikes stolen from Molly Cameron's shop here in Portland back in 2017 - a break-in that resulted in the closing of that shop. #deathtobikethieves)
    Blue Axino - recovered: July 12, 2018
    This stunning, custom Breadwinner Cycles with the owner's name emblazoned on the damn tube was one of two bikes stolen from the shop back in July - see "Custom bikes stolen from Breadwinner Cycles in Portland". Fast forward a couple of weeks and the owner posted: "My bike was returned to the BreadWinner shop today. Not sure about all the details, but it is still in one piece." I tried to make enquiries about this one, but got nothing. Ah well. At least the bike's back ...
    Custom Breadwinner Lolo - recovered: July 13, 2018
    ".. someone found it as a 'free bike' .." (no other details provided)
    2017 Norco Bikes Indie4 - recovered: July 15, 2018
    This one was a rabbit hole: Spotted on Offerup (shocker, I know) the owner confirmed "Yes, I can tell that this is the bike - I will contact the local police and see how to go from there. And yes, I am a 100% certain that it is my bike." So: We put them in touch with Offerup. That was July 16th. The owner got an Offerup form letter ("We ask you to make a police report because only your local law enforcement has the jurisdiction to fight crime in your area...") ... and then ... nothing.


    Fast forward to August 28th, when the owner gets a 2nd form letter from Offerup. ("It took them about 5 weeks" says the owner) --- One month later, nothing to show for it but form letters. Oh yeah, the seller of this bike is still active and 'verified'. Sigh... </i> </blockquote>

    </article>
    A lucky spot via Twitter - this person registered a couple days after someone had already tagged us on @stolenbikereg - "Friend of mine found an abandoned bike on an overpass at 17th & Powell. It’s been dropped at WTFbikes. Pass it on until the owner is found! CC @stolenbikereg." </i>
    Fuji - recovered: July 16, 2018
    Remember when Boise PD signed up with Bike Index? Well, they've been busy - from their Facebook: "Bike Index for the win! In early July, Shannon unfortunately had to report that her Trek mountain bike had been stolen from her place of work Downtown. She filed a report with Boise Police and also updated it as stolen on the Boise Bike Index, which is a registry used across the nation to keep track of people’s bicycles. Shannon had pictures and the serial number posted to the Bike Index, which makes things much easier when trying to locate a lost or stolen bike. Fast forward just over a week… Boise Police detectives located a bike that had recently been pawned under suspicious circumstances. Detectives ran the serial number and compared pictures, and voila! They realized that this bicycle was in fact Shannon’s, which she had reported stolen the week before. The bad guy who had stolen and pawned her bike was charged with grand theft and burglary, and Shannon got back her Trek mountain bike!"
    2013 Trek - recovered: July 16, 2018
    " A pawn shop was trying to sell it, and a customer told the owner that it was stolen..."
    2013 Haro BMX - recovered: July 16, 2018
    Got a quick message about this one from the Seattle Police Dept Evidence Unit that they had this one. Later, from the owner: "Sure did (get it back)! Already called and am going to pick it up today! Thanks Bryan! This made my day!"
    2010 Specialized Rockhopper - recovered: July 16, 2018
    This one came in tagged "Possible sighting on Letgo app" Later, from the owner: "Someone bought it from a thief on the 'Letgo' app and he checked the serial number on this site!!!! Yay Bike Index!!!!" (Editor's note: Hey Letgo - we're seeing more and more stolen bikes show up on your site. You should drop us a line. )
    2017 Santa Cruz 5010 C - recovered: July 17, 2018
    The initial tip on this one came in as: "I may have found your bike at at 18th and Harrison. I turned it over to Mission Station in link with another attempted theft ..." Later, from the owner, we learned more : "A guy/saint named (redacted) called me, saying that he apprehended someone stealing his bike while possessing my bike. He looked up my bike on Bike Index, and called me. The SF police were ready to let the thief leave with my bike, but Sam convinced them to wait for me to come pick it up. The bike was very altered and damaged, but we could read enough of the filed down serial number to confirm it as mine..." </i>
    2011 Kona HonkyTonk - recovered: July 18, 2018
    Another great score from the Stolen Bikes Edmonton crew: "I think I saw this bike on the Letgo app..." Later, from the owner: "Hi, thank you so much for the tip, it was my bike in the add!!! I contacted the police this morning and I guess a neighbour near the seller had also tipped off police about a nice bike in a sketchy area. I got the bike back tonight!! Thanks again - this bike community rocks!! " </i>
    Argon 18 Nitrogen - recovered: July 18, 2018
    Stop me if you've heard this one: someone buys a stolen bike on Offerup and then it turns out this is one of those sellers everybody has been chasing for months already because for some damn reason his account is still active even though he's fencing bikes left and right. Hell, it's still active as I write this. Initial report:"Hello, I ended up buying this bike in Offerup and just came to know it is stolen. Please reply back for details. Thanks!!" Later on, more: "Hi Bryan, I have recovered the bicycle and have a good case against the person who “sold” it. I have a report of his OU sales history. He has listed 22 bicycles (mostly high end) in a two year period, just on Offerup. "

    So: It looks like this person is now getting the law enforcement attention they deserve, but, come on ... How the hell this person still has an active account is beyond me. </blockquote>

    2015 Evil Insurgent - recovered: July 18, 2018
    </article>
    Another Stolen Bikes Edmonton / LetGo special: "Look what I just found on letgo!" ... Later, from the owner: "Got my bike back - Thanks! Was contacted via Bike Index that my bike had popped up for Sale on LetGo ... then with some help from my friends, I now have my bike back!" </i>
    2017 Kona Blast - recovered: July 23, 2018
    "Beaverton, OR police arrested transients in a stolen car with my bike and other stolen items inside. This site works!!"
    2016 Felt F65X - recovered: July 24, 2018
    "Spotted it on Kijiji pretty quickly after the theft, a group of people we knew messaged the guys through the day (probably gonna launch a detective agency soon to be honest), cops got involved and took over the Kijiji bait and had to chase the guy away through a busy neighborhood - cop on foot chased the guy (who took off on the bike) down for about 4 blocks, ended when another one who caught up in the SUV & tackled the thief. JUSTICE FTW."
    Specialized Sirrus - recovered: July 25, 2018
    Hey! The University of Washington police - also Bike Index partners - continue to recover bikes at a steady rate - and they posted this one to Facebook: "Shout out to UW Police Sgt. Jackson who recovered an Seattle Police Department stolen bike yesterday! Remember to register your bike through Bike Index so we can get it back!" </i>
    2005 Lemond Racing Cycles Versailles - recovered: July 25, 2018
    " Police recovery (no other details) ..." (Bike Index notes this serial placement is awesome ... super clear, super easy to read. All serials should be somewhere this easy to access and read!)
    2016 Stromer - recovered: July 26, 2018
    "Officer found person riding spray painted bike. Turned out to be my bike!"
    2017 Jamis Renegade - recovered: July 28, 2018


    And that was July, 2018! There's a couple recoveries in here I've had to omit because of special circumstances - but I look forward to telling you about them in next month's roundup. Just have to wait for a couple of folks to get arrested first ...

    Before you go - We would love it if you could help us out. I can't stress enough how much we need your help to keep this site running - in any way shape or form.

    If you could take just two minutes out of your day and do just one of these things, we'd appreciate it hugely:

    • Give Bike Index a shout-out on Facebook!
    • Tweet about the Bike Index, and tag @bikeindex so we can follow you back
    • Drop us a couple of bucks to help keep up the fight against bike thieves

    Thanks for reading! See you next month!