Just got word that we’ve recovered yet another stolen bike! Here’s how it went down:
Last Friday, two guys walked into the downtown Bike Gallery store. The employees were suspicious because they seemed to be high and they left a nice, unlocked green Kona parked outside. When the guys left the store one of the employees, Mike Hilbrandt, jumped onto the Stolen Bike Listings and did a quick check. Sure enough he saw the bike listed! (here’s the original listing).
Thinking ahead, another employee followed the bad guys down the street until they stopped at the courthouse. One of them went inside while the other hung out with the bike. The Bike Gallery employee called the cops. The cops showed up and arrested the bad guy on outstanding charges.
We had a bit of trouble tracking down the owner, but she finally went down and positively ID’d the bike. Suffice it to say she was very happy! Here’s what she said:
“Everyone told me I should just give up and get a new bike, but I wouldn’t let the dream die. Thank you so much to everyone at BikePortland.org and to the Bike Gallery downtown. I owe you guys! I made you a little drawing to show my bike’s and my gratitude. I hope you like it.”
Here’s the drawing:
I love happy endings!
[P.S. Thanks to all of the shops and vigilantes concerned citizens who have signed up for the Stolen Bike Digest. The more sign-ups we get the more effective the listings will be.]