Recovery Stories

I was contacted by someone at the Bike Index. They indicated that someone had noticed a bike similar to mine for sale on OfferUp. Someone had posted the ad and their suspension of the match to a NW stolen bikes Facebook group. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tim Bike recovered 2018.4.29

Someone found it for sale online and checked the Bike Index, and sent me an email! I was so glad to get it back! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Courtnay Bike recovered 2018.4.22

Good News! My bike has been found!!!! Over in Northeast Portland probably 5+miles from my house, someone found it stashed in an alley. He searched BikePortland.org stolen bikes and found my listing with the Bike Index!!!! Thank you thank you! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Scott Bike recovered 2018.4.20

The person who found my bike contacted me via Bike Index! Thanks for helping me recover my mountain bike I never thought I’d see again! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Julia Bike recovered 2018.4.17

Big shout out to the Bike Index and the Vancouver WA Police Department! Went undercover to 'buy it.' translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Ryan Bike recovered 2018.4.12

I received a text message from a local bike shop owner that he found the bike. Some details about the bike looked suspicious to him, and he found my entry for the bike here on the Bike Index. He contacted me, and I came and picked it up! Bike Index is amazing! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Juliayn Bike recovered 2018.4.10

In an unbelievable and amazing turn of events, a couple of bike index good Samaritans spotted my bike downtown, called 9-1-1, and the King Co Transit Police recovered the bike. It was relatively unscathed and in good shape. What a great community to tap into here on the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike David Bike recovered 2018.4.9

Found by SF/SFGOV city employees and matched in the Bike Index. "It was recovered last year by the SFPD in another case. " translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Dan Bike recovered 2018.4.8

Pawn shop found it on the Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Colin Summers Bike recovered 2018.4.8

Bike thief ditched the bike in someone's yard a couple houses down and good Samaritan grabbed it and started combing Craigslist and the Bike Index. Guy called me at work today and dropped my bike off a couple hours later. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Donovan Bike recovered 2018.4.6

Good Samaritan found it and matched it to our Bike Index post. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Joanna Bike recovered 2018.3.29

Diligent Bike Index members hit me up with a recent Craigslist ad about the bike-- I was able to contact the seller, organize a time to meet, and SFPD was able to conduct a sting to get the bike back. I'm overjoyed. Thank you Bike Index!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Gordon Bike recovered 2018.3.28

Found by PPB and ID'd in the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Amy Bike recovered 2018.3.26

Through Bike Index!!! Thank you. Someone checked the serial number on Bike Index, and got in touch with me. It was returned the next day. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike rachel Leising Bike recovered 2018.3.26

Found 2 years after theft, ID'd ny a shop via the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Danny Bike recovered 2018.3.25

Seattle MTA police found the bike, ran the SN on the Bike Index, and reclaimed it for me! Bike found at 1st Ave S and 99 in SoDo. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Andrew Bike recovered 2018.3.22

I got a phone call, email and text message from a police officer and Bike Index on March 18th 2018. I don't know how they found it. It was definitely my bike. Really appreciate the Police officer who works for stolen bikes and Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Izumi Bike recovered 2018.3.19

After I posted this stolen bike on the Bike Index, a good Samaritan found the bike in a neighbors back yard, and he somehow found my listing on the Bike Index, emailed me, and we arranged for me to pick it up! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Shannon Bike recovered 2018.3.12

Bike was found in the REI parking garage. Employees looked up the serial and found my phone number on the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jared Bike recovered 2018.3.7

It was found in the neighborhood by someone who quickly recognized that it looked out of place and was stolen. He took it in for safekeeping and checked Bike Index, finding my entry. Thank you! We never would have gotten it back without Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Andrew M Bike recovered 2018.3.7

Found by a bike shop, and ID'd in the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bryan Bike recovered 2018.2.26

Found by a bike parking facility in Berkeley. And ID'd in the Bike index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Kristin Bike recovered 2018.2.25

A bike store called me and they told me they had my bike. Apparently, a homeless person had brought it in for a tune-up with the lock still on and they suspected that it was stolen. The store looked up the serial number on Bike Index and called me. Thanks Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Axel Bike recovered 2018.2.24

Officer John of the Seattle PD North Precinct recovered my bike on Feb. 14 -- What a wonderful Valentine's Day surprise! He was able to ID it from both the police report and the bike index report. Thanks so much to Bike Index and Seattle Police, especially Officer John, for the return of my bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Megan Bike recovered 2018.2.15

Awesome work by the Bike Index and Officer Sanders of PPB. Someone found the bike on OfferUp , contacted PPB and Ofc Sanders arranged to meet the seller. The bike is worse for the wear but definitely salvageable. Kudos to all. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jay Bike recovered 2018.2.13

Portland police department found my bike and ran the serial number through the Bike Index. I was contacted right away (thanks Ben) and picked it up the following day. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Adrian Bike recovered 2018.2.10

I was told by a local bike shop to record serial numbers and take pics and upload to the bike index. The Bike Index allowed me to go to the local police and report my stolen bike with great accuracy. 2 days later, I received a call from authorities saying that they found my bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Sarah Bike recovered 2018.2.10

SFPD officer Andrew Johnson recognized the bike from seeing it on the Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Chris Bike recovered 2018.2.8

A gentleman, Andy, who bought it recently realized it was stolen once he checked in on the Bike Index! Absolutely amazing. THANK YOU SO MUCH! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Elle Bike recovered 2018.2.5

Spotted by a fellow PDX cyclist for sale in a local pawn shop. A serial snafu meant the bike didn't show up as stolen, but the spotter ID'd it in the Bike Index and notified the owner, who came and picked it up. This is 2 of 2 bikes this owner had stolen - both recovered via Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Gary Bike recovered 2018.2.1

I followed all the steps you guys mentioned me to do! Someone actually saw my post "Stolen" post from Craigslist and send me a link to a bike that looked like mine being sold in OfferUp.com. Thanks Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Katie Bike recovered 2018.1.30

King County Sheriff Deputy saw someone riding a bike he recognized from the Bike Index, pulled the person over, got the bike, and called me! Apparently this officer "always checks the Bike Index." translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Michael Bike recovered 2018.1.24

A fellow cyclist bought the bike from OfferUp.com and then later found the posting on Bike Index that it had been stolen. He contacted the Bike Index and the Portland Police who notified me. I am so happy to have it returned! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bryan Bike recovered 2018.1.19

A person familiar with the Bike Index and another similar site searched both after finding my bike. They emailed me and then called me to arrange a time and place to return my bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Charles Bike recovered 2018.1.19

Turned up in Laguna Beach CA. Current owner tried to sell it without knowing it was stolen -- potential buyer found serial number here on the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Peter Bike recovered 2018.1.12

Someone emailed me using the Bike Index and seen it at a police auction. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Scott Bike recovered 2018.1.10

Bike recovered by a Gresham bike shop over one year after theft, ID'd on the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike David Bike recovered 2018.1.4

A Bike Index community member found the bike in Seattle. They were very kind to look it up and hold it for us for recovery. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Inderpreet Bike recovered 2018.1.3

received a phone call tonight from the Renton police. They were able to recover my bike from two men trying to sell it at a local pawn shop. The shop owner used the Bike Index to match the serial number! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Marjorie Bike recovered 2017.12.31

Recovered by PPB, ID'd on the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Trenton Bike recovered 2017.12.31

Someone spotted an ad on OfferUp, cross-checked with Bike Index, and found that it was listed as stolen. The person alerted me to the ad. Then the thief/seller responded to a meetup through OfferUp. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tom Bike recovered 2017.12.31

Found by PPB, ID'd in the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bryan Bike recovered 2017.12.30

Because of the Bike Index and the amazing people of PDX and the PDX police my bike was recovered and the thief was arrested. Thanks for all you do! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Vanessa Bike recovered 2017.12.30

Someone bought it off the street, looked up the serial number, found my post on the Bike Index and returned it to me. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tiffany Bike recovered 2017.12.30

Found by CCSO officers and returned via the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike John Bike recovered 2017.12.30

Good Samaritan turned it into the police and then checked the Bike Index and called me! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Chris Bike recovered 2017.12.18

Someone looked up the ID on the BIke Index and contacted me! Thanks. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Julie Bike recovered 2017.12.15

Bike Index got my bike back, with the help of some very kind and good people, Sal and Mary. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Mathew Bike recovered 2017.12.7

A good Samaritan saw the bike listed as stolen on the Bike Index and saw a man on the bike a couple days later. She approached him and negotiated for the bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Shayanne Bike recovered 2017.11.30

Portland Police found bike in possession of person of interest. Checked the Bike Index and noted it was stolen. Called me - and now I have my bike back!!! Thanks Officer Sanders and Bike Index!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Betsy Bike recovered 2017.11.30