Recovery Stories

Someone recently sold the bike via OfferUp. After purchasing, the buyer thought there was something odd about the seller being not the type of person who would build/own a custom S&S travel track bike. He looked up the bike, found it on the registry and returned it to me. I paid the buyer what he had paid for the bike + $100 for the effort and kindness. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Dave Bike recovered 2017.1.17

The PPB Bike Theft Task Force found it after I registered the bike's serial number with the Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nick Bike recovered 2017.1.17

The thief who stole my bike sold it to a guy who saw my listing on Bike Index!! He called me and I went to pick up my bike. I'm overjoyed! So happy to be reunited with my bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Silvie Bike recovered 2017.1.15

Someone found my bike! He contacted me through this website. I picked it up from SPD today! Thanks. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike George Bike recovered 2017.1.10

Seattle Police found the bike while looking for another stolen bike and returned it. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Michael Bike recovered 2017.1.8

Andrea, merchant in Portland, found it on her lot, abandoned by the thief. He later came back to claim it but his story made her suspicious and she started checking sites... found Bike Index... and sent us a message through you. We met her today and recovered the bike. Hooray Andrea! Hooray Bike Index! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Stephen Bike recovered 2017.1.4

Pawned in South Seattle but since I'd filed a police report, the detectives called me and I was able to get it back! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Alex Bike recovered 2017.1.2

Someone bought the bike, then thought it looked suspicious and checked online. He found the Bike Index listing, I was contacted, and the bike was returned! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Ryan Bike recovered 2017.1.2

i spotted the bike at a homeless encampment less than a mile from my home. i did not have the serial # logged anywhere other than bike registry, so it was helpful that i could retrieve that info here and use it in my police report, which was crucial in getting my bike back after calling it in. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jason Bike recovered 2017.1.1

Found listed on facebook for sale. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Chris Bike recovered 2016.12.21

Got a call and they found it!!! I'm so happy!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jevon Bike recovered 2016.12.21

I had posted my bike as stolen, with pictures, on Craigslist. A great human being messaged me to say someone was offering my bike as a trade and that it was posted on OfferUp. I then asked a local rider on mtbr.com if he would help me get it back, and he was down. So we met up and went to the sale together (Police were aware but unable to get us a stand-by unit in time). Thief let me test ride it, so my friend got in his car and drove away as I pedaled out of there, middle finger waaaaay up! We re-met down the road, checked the serial # and put my bike on his car rack and took it home. Len, thanks bro! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Collin Bike recovered 2016.12.20

Found from a homeless guy by a person who was brave enough to look at it and check the serial online. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Robin Bike recovered 2016.12.15

PBB's BTTF used info from Bike Index to ID my bike as it rolled in front of them. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Cosmo Bike recovered 2016.12.14

Police recovered the bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Rob Bike recovered 2016.12.13

Police sound bike in parking garage near W Burnside bridge. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Samantha Bike recovered 2016.12.13

Citizen found bike in their yard abandoned, reported to Dept. of Transportation who found me in the registry, returned to me within one week of being stolen!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Don Bike recovered 2016.12.12

Police contacted me and I picked it up from them. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Hlynur Bike recovered 2016.12.6

A member of Bike Index spotted my bike listed on a site called offerup.com. he messaged me. My son and I set up a time to "Buy" the bike from the "Holder" of the bike in a Lowe's parking lot. we arrived early and staked out the setting. I went in the store to wait. My son messaged me when they arrived. I went out to the parking lot further away and watched the situation. When my son confirmed the bike was mine, he gave me the pre-determined signal. I called 911. he went inside the store to "get money from the ATM" to stall. I saw the people were getting nervous and getting ready to leave. I went up and confronted them at that point to stall them. The police arrived in about 8 minutes after I called them. The police then confirmed details and I was able to take the bike home with me :D translated from English

Photo of recovered bike David Bike recovered 2016.12.6

The bike was recovered by the El Segundo Police Department and held in property storage. ESPD called me to pick it up. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Sean Bike recovered 2016.12.6

Found thanks to Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bryan Bike recovered 2016.12.5

A super kind soul saw my bike at a pawn shop, realized that it was a bit out of place, checked to see if it was on Bike Index, and then reached out to me. It was in fact my bike! Thanks so much Bobby (and Bike Index!) translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Matt Bike recovered 2016.12.5

Recovered by shop thanks to Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Scott Bike recovered 2016.12.4

Recovered by shop thanks to Bike Index. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Scott Bike recovered 2016.12.4

After 4 weeks of searching, I received a call from someone. They have purchased a frame at a San Jose flea market and checked the serial number. The kind stranger offered to return it to me, but I was just relieved that at least a part of the bike has ended up in good hands. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Aleksey Bike recovered 2016.12.4

The bike was stolen from in front of my house, while I ran inside for a quick minute. When I returned, it was gone. I ran back inside and reported it stolen on the Bike Index and within a matter of 2 hours, I was called by the person who had found the bike. I was so relieved translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jose Bike recovered 2016.12.4

Pawn shop contacted the police. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike AT Bike recovered 2016.12.4

New friend found my bike for sale on Craigslist and Pinkbike, then called me (on vacation in Mexico) to confirm theft. He got it touch with Portland police and I followed up when I returned. Officer Dave Sanders got in touch with seller and recovered the bike. Thank you new friend Mike, Portland police officer Sanders and the Bike Index!!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bill Bike recovered 2016.12.3

Police recovered the bike yesterday. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Shawn Gibbs Bike recovered 2016.12.3

The Santa Barbara Sheriffs recovered the bike in a stolen Porsche that the thief had crashed apparently near Oprah's house in Montecito. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Larry Bike recovered 2016.12.2

Edmonton police service found the bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Andrea Bike recovered 2016.12.2

A woman in the area saw my Craigslist post and recognized the bike when the thief tried to sell it to her. She called me and let me know where he was. A friend helped me by cruising the area looking for the guy and got it back. New Orleans is a tiny city and people who live here are mostly good. Yay, networking. Thank you for having this site up. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Kerry Bike recovered 2016.11.29

Found by local resident and reported to police. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Lincoln City Police Department, Oregon Bike recovered 2016.11.28

Bike was recovered by the UWPD abandoned under a stairwell the same day it was stolen. I got a sweet seat upgrade and some dope stickers, but otherwise my bike was exactly as I had locked it up. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Seth Bike recovered 2016.11.28

Someone read posts on twitter and contacted me. I'm feelin the love! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Acaddock Bike recovered 2016.11.27

After 4 weeks missing, my bike was found chained to a man's fence in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. This great guy noticed the bike, checked the serial number, and found the bike on this website. He called the local police, who notified me! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Jonathan Bike recovered 2016.11.23

It was posted on craglist And i pretended to be buyer and showed up with police translated from English

Photo of recovered bike John Bike recovered 2016.11.22

A friend saw someone had listed a Surly on Craigslist for $300. He saw there was a stolen bike matching it's description on the Bike Index, offered the seller $150 over asking, went to go pick it up and simply said, "I know this bike is stolen." The person handed it over and he got my contact info off the index and reunited me with my bike! Thanks, Bike Index!!! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Morgan Bike recovered 2016.11.20

I put signs up all over the neighborhood! Someone called me and said they had found it in the hands of others. Still not sure if they were the one who stole it or not but I gave them a reward anyway. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Regan Bike recovered 2016.11.19

The thief tried to sell it at a local sporting good consignment shop. I had called all the local shops with a description and they recognized and reported it immediately. Bike is home safe and sound. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nile Bike recovered 2016.11.19

Got a call from local bike repair shop in downtown Seattle - eight months later I am reunited with my bike. A little different looking after living on the street with gold petals, stickers, but good to have it back home. Kudos to Bike Index and the Brad at The Bicycle Repair Shop at 68 Madison Street, proving that bike people are good people. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike John Bike recovered 2016.11.18

Two kind passersby saw my bike in a homeless encampment at Hubble &7th in the dogpatch and called me. I hustled over there and took it back. This was 24hours after I listed my bike as stolen. This service is a miracle!!! People are so kind and try so hard to help. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Ella Bike recovered 2016.11.17

Someone saw the bike posted online then checked with BikeIndex to make sure it wasn't stolen. After seeing the bike, the person contacted me saying, "I think I found your bike". I made contact with the seller, involved the police (I had a filed a police report when it was stolen), and the police confronted the seller and recovered the bike. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Daniel Bike recovered 2016.11.17

Found with Bike Index help! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Markus Bike recovered 2016.11.13

A very stand up guy bought my bike for his girlfriend at a Flea Market in Oakland . After purchasing it, he saw my stolen bike ad on Craigslist and contacted me. I'm so happy I got my bike back! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Mia Bike recovered 2016.11.12

Police located in a local pawn shop. It was well used, but it was found. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Bobby Bike recovered 2016.11.10

The Seattle Police Department recovered this bike, cross-referenced it on Bike Index, and got in touch. Awesome! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Michael Bike recovered 2016.11.10

Eric bought my bike for $50 and was thrilled! Then, when he started thinking it was too good a deal, he checked the Bike Index and saw my stolen posting. He contacted me and returned it! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike William Bike recovered 2016.11.6

@GetYourBikeBack tweeted description of found bike. Was able to verify description through the Bike Index and, as an added bonus, SPD then located another one of our stolen bikes listed on Bike Index in their warehouse! Many many thanks to SPD and Bike Index. We thought these were gone for good. translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Nick Bike recovered 2016.11.3

Police found a "Black Fuse"at a pawn shop with a clearly phony serial number entered in the Bike Index database. Detective called and shop confirmed actual serial matched my bike! translated from English

Photo of recovered bike Tom Bike recovered 2016.11.2