Recovery Stories

The thief was belligerently drunk and threw it into a garden. The person who found it knew to look here and saw it listed! Thanks Bike Index--You guys rock! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Alexa Bike recovered 2015.7.27

Portland Police recovered my bike and contacted me because my bike was registered on bike index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Russell Bike recovered 2015.7.22

Pawn shop identified the bike and notified me through Bike Index. I got my Bike back! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jennifer Bike recovered 2015.7.15

Two people thought it looked out of place with the guy who had it, they confronted him, called the police, checked the serial number, matched it to my post on Bike Index and called me on my cell. I showed up a few minutes later and the cops matched it with my police report. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Ira Bike recovered 2015.7.2

Some awesome guy named Matt found it abandoned near his apartment. He looked on the bike index and called me, and now I have it back! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nathan Bike recovered 2015.6.21

My son's stolen bike is now recovered, through Bike Index. A good citizen saw it abandoned, checked the listings and got in touch. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Neil Bike recovered 2015.6.14

Someone bought it at a flea market, checked the serial, tracked me down through Bike Index and got it back to me - nearly three years after the theft! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tommaso Bike recovered 2015.6.11

Someone bought it at a flea market, looked up the serial number, called me and returned the bike! Bike Index was familiar to the person as they had just had their bike stolen so thanks Bike Index, you worked!!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Andy Bike recovered 2015.6.9

My bike was retrieved from a local flea market and reunited with me this past weekend through the Bike Index registration. Such joy to have this bike returned! It's got very high sentimental value, being a gift from and formerly ridden by my step father. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Mario Bike recovered 2015.6.8

A wonderful good samaritan bought my bike for $80 from a homeless person, checked Bike Index, found that it was stolen and contacted me! I'm so relieved, and so grateful to my neighbor and to Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Kate Bike recovered 2015.5.30

King County Sheriff Sergeant Cindi West spotted the bike after looking at Bike Index, a dude on 3rd and Pike had it. When asked, he said it was his bike, and he'd had it for several months. Cindi knew this was incorrect and took the bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bunny Bike recovered 2015.5.27

A man found my bike in an alleyway, looked up the serial number, found my stolen bike listing on Bike Index.org and called me to tell me he would like to return my bike. 24 hours later I had my bike back with only some minor damage! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Adam Bike recovered 2015.5.16

Someone found a craigslist ad featuring my bike. They contacted me through Bike Index to let me know, I contacted the craigslist poster and recovered my bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Amy Bike recovered 2015.5.7

My Langster was stolen in Washington and sold on Offerup in Portland, but an eagle eyed Bike Index user ID'd it and got my stolen bike back to me! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nicole Bike recovered 2015.5.6

Because I registered it on Bike Index, I was tipped off by a Bike Index user and I got my bike back. I will recommend registration to all of my friends going forward! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Sterling Bike recovered 2015.5.5

Portland police had this bike in their recovered evidence room, ran it through Bike Index, found the owner and returned it! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Christopher Bike recovered 2015.4.25

The Bike Index integration with SeattleBikeBlog helped spread the word, leading to it being found, reclaimed and recovered. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Kelly Bike recovered 2015.4.13

A very kind person contacted me through Bike Index. Someone listed a bike on craigslist matching my bike's description with the same stock photo. I met with the person and had the police nearby— when I identified the bike as mine (with the serial number), they helped me claim it. It had been gone for almost 2 months, I'd accepted it as gone, HUGE thanks! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike emily Bike recovered 2015.3.31

Atim, the Saint of Oakland, bought it from guy fencing it on San Pablo for $40, hunted me down online, found me on Bike Index, returned the bike, and refused a reward until I forced him to accept one. This all happened about one week after the theft. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bryce Bike recovered 2015.3.27

Police Officer found it dumped in a ditch, I got it back thanks to Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Hayden Bike recovered 2015.3.24

A super awesome person noticed someone with a poorly fitting bike left unlocked. She confirmed it matched the description and serial on Bike Index, the police took my bike for safekeeping. I wouldn't have gotten my bike back without you! You guys rock! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Joming Bike recovered 2015.3.20

A Bike Index user contacted me and delivered it to me safe and (mostly) sound - he wouldn't accept a reward, he was just happy to be able to reunite me with my bike :') translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tori Bike recovered 2015.3.17

Portland Police Officer Ross Scott saw the listing in Bike Index, saw thief with bike, recovered the bike and returned the bike to me! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Deborah Bike recovered 2015.3.17

Portland Police officer saw the note about the bike being a tri-training bike on the Bike Index, pulled the thief and bike a couple hours later. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Katie Bike recovered 2015.3.16

My bike was abandoned in an alley. The people who found it looked it up on Bike Index - I got my bike back less than two weeks after it was stolen! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Joseph Bike recovered 2015.3.13

A little more than three months after it was stolen I received an email from an eagle-eyed Bike Index user with a link to a craigslist ad. Police set up a sting and recovered my bike, another stolen bike, and the guy selling them is a suspect in a local goat theft. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nick Bike recovered 2015.3.4

Someone found this listing and found the bike through Craigslist and contacted me! Yippee! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Carrie Bike recovered 2015.3.3

The odds of recovering my bike 8 months later, in town, and in one piece had to be really slight. I wouldn't have it without the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jordan Bike recovered 2015.2.25

A homeless man found it abandoned, brought it to The Bicycle Repair Shop and asked if they could find out if it was a stolen bike. They found it on Bike Index and called me up. That evening I got the bike back mostly intact -- thanks! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Mark Bike recovered 2015.2.11

Seattle Police recovered the bike and then found my listing here on Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jason Bike recovered 2015.1.29

The owner of Use It Again Thrift Store found my bike at the back of his store. He looked it up in Bike Index, found my number and called me. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Chung-yan hung Bike recovered 2015.1.26

A Portland police officer spotted my bike downtown. He ran it through the system and didn't find a matching serial number (because I had failed to record it), but he then found my report. The fenders and rack were taken, and it's got a few minor dings, but it's intact and running smoothly. WAHOO! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Rebecca Bike recovered 2015.1.22

Portland Police officer Susan Abrahamson recovered it from Fat Tire Farm because it was marked stolen on Bike Index translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Justin Bike recovered 2015.1.21

A police officer encountered a suspicious bike and ran the number on Bike Index - my bike!! All accessories were gone, and the finish had been decimated with steel wool, but I have already powder coated it and am putting it back together. Bicyclists win! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Johnathan Bike recovered 2015.1.19

A good citizen found it stashed in some bushes behind a Fred Meyer with a flat and the stickers partially scratched off. They matched it with the picture on Bike Index. Thanks a zillion!!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Peter Bike recovered 2015.1.10

Someone looking to buy a bike noticed it on Craigslist and checked the serial number. The bike has been painted, tires changed, handlebars switched, etc. but I feel happy to have it returned after almost 4 years! Portland Police picked it up and returned it to me!! Thanks SO MUCH Bryan Hance and Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Julia Bike recovered 2015.1.4

Seattle Police recovered the bike, identified it with the Bike Index and returned it! Thanks to @Bike Index/@stolenbikessea & @SPD, I've been reunited with my stolen bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Laurel Pederson Bike recovered 2014.12.30

A buyer purchased on OfferUpNow.com and noticed the serial number registered as stolen on the Bike Index. They contacted me and returned it. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Khoa Bike recovered 2014.12.29

Someone handed in stripped frame at Manchester police station, the police used the Bike Index to find me and return the bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bike recovered 2014.12.21

Police department found the bike and contacted me with the Bike Index to return it. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jeremy Bike recovered 2014.12.13

After the Bike Index twitter tweeted a stolen bike alert, someone recognized my bike, tweeted a picture back, and we recovered the bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jessica Bike recovered 2014.11.26

A Good Samaritan saw it being ridden, checked the registry, confirmed that it was stolen, got in touch with me, and returned it to me. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike dindurthy Bike recovered 2014.11.3

Good Samaritan saw it being ridden, got a weird feeling, and offered to buy it. He checked Bike Index and confirmed that it was stolen, got in touch with me and returned it to me. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike dindurthy Bike recovered 2014.11.3

Dave at BackPedal CycleWorks saw my bike on Bike Index when an unsuspecting buyer brought it in for a check over. I'm amazed I've gotten my beloved wheels back, and incredibly grateful to Dave and Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike John Bike recovered 2014.10.8