On the evening of Valentines Day, Portland bike racer Patrick Wilder got his heart broken.
Wilder, who races cyclocross and mountain bikes with the Team Cyclepath, awoke on February 15th to realize that his two prized, high-end titanium bikes were stolen from a locked, private storage unit in his Pearl District condominium building (read his response on his blog).
Luckily, security cameras caught the thief in action. Here are two more photos that Wilder hopes will lead to the recovery of his bikes:
A friend of Wilder’s says the police are familiar with the thief. They say he is targeting other condo buildings in the Pearl and that he’s focusing on high-end sports equipment.
Wilder says he’s prepared to pay a reward of $1,000 each for the return of these bicycles. The bikes are valued at about $3,500 to $4,000 a piece.
The bikes stolen were:
- Moots “Psychlo-X” Cyclocross bike, size 58 (looks like a road bike but has knobby tires — see photo below)
- Moots 29″ Cross Country Mountain Bike, size 58 (set up as single speed)
- For more information on the bikes read Wilder’s blog.
Keep an eye out for these bikes and for this thief. And, you live in the Pearl, you might want to start bringing your bikes inside (if you don’t already). If you have any information, please contact us and we’ll connect you with Mr. Wilder.
[NOTE: I realize that the BikePortland Stolen Bike Listings have been down for about a year. I truly regret this situation. We receive many emails each week about stolen bikes and we just have not been able to get the listings fixed. However, I finally have some news. I am meeting this week with Michael Jones from Finetoothcog (our partner on the listings) to finally iron out a solution. Thanks and hopefully soon the BikePortland Stolen Bike Listings will regain their former glory.]
UPDATE 2:50pm:
Anita Wilder, to whose husband these bikes belong, just reported in the comments that police are currently circling the neighborhood around NW 29th and Quimby looking for someone who was spotted riding one of the stolen bikes. We’ll keep you posted on any further developments.
UPDATE 4:01pm:
This just in from Ms. Wilder:
“Sounds like the guy is gone. The good news – it’s clear that it was Patrick’s bike. All we can do now is to let people in NW Portland know the crook may live around there, and to watch out for the guy, and to watch out for their stuff.”
Thanks!
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Is there a higher resolution version of that first photo available?
I really hope they catch that guy.
If someone stole either of my bikes I know I’d cry. They’re not worth much monetarily (probably less than $100 each) but I love both of them.
There are a bunch of pictures on Patrick’s blog:
http://www.patrickinportland.blogspot.com
I’ll send a few your way Jonathan!
Thanks for keeping a lookout… and lock up those wheels!!!
Please note that most bike lockers are very vulnerable to theft.
From his blog:
Oh man that sucks. And I can kinda relate: one spacey, pre-coffee morning I propped my bike up against a rack sans lock (so I could go peek into a coffee shop, actually), but then ended up locking up further down the block on Hawthorne. I did a bunch of stuff, went back to get my bike, but stupidly went to the *first* place, where I had left it unlocked for a few moments. (Still pre-coffee at that point.) So for a few minutes I thought my bike was gone, and it was just sickening. It’s nothing fancy, but I put a lot of work into it, tricking it out for urban riding. Also I felt so dumb, not having recorded my serial number. And naive or not, that someone will just walk off with your stuff is infuriating.
That first picture pisses me off. I was hoping to see a higher res version of it.
If the security cams only do 320×240, that’s pretty unfortunate, and kinda useless.
Unfortunately, AFAIK, those image enhancement programs you see in the movies – the ones that can create a crisp image from a few blurry pixels – don’t actually exist. 🙂
high end bikes are ALWAYS worth the small extra in home owners or renters insurance premiums, if it comes to that…
sucks, man. hope they’re recovered…
Send it to CSI Las Vegas. They will be able to zoom in far enough to get his fingerprint off the door and his DNA from his hair.
Then they can take that, plug it in to their computer, and it will spit out who the guy is, what brand of deoderant he buys, and who he last slept with.
With that information they can triangulate his position in real-time.
–
I just felt like we needed a little humor injected.
Man, this sucks. A bigger question is how is he getting in to all these places? Does he have an “inside” man?
Wow, sorry this happened.
I’ve lived a more than a few places that would not allow me to bring my bike in the elevator and store it in my apartment – despite the fact that the replacement value of the bike was worth more than three times my rent.
My options included locking my bike up with other bikes in an unguarded common area or renting a storage space with a flimsy lock, that was also unguarded and unwatched.
I went for the storage space, but locked my bike to a pipe inside the storage space.
Regardless, my favorite place to store my ride is in my living room.
R.
I live in the Pearl and have a storage locker in the basement but I never use it. I always take my bike up with me, into my apt, then lock the backwheel to the frame with my new york u-lock. Storage lockers in Pearl condos have been getting hit pretty hard lately with theft/burglaries, from what I’ve been told.
As a resident here in the Pearl, I can tell you that many of these buildings appear to have very good security at first glance, but once you really take a look you see it’s a mere illusion, and these buildings don’t offer much more protection than any other. If anything, due to the high density of people living in them, all the coming and going, it makes it that much easier for a thief to slip in unsuspecting. Sad but true
It shouldn’t be hard to catch this guy, how many people ride bikes in the Pearl at 5am? How did he get in the building, most have card access only? The secure storage area, does that have a ceiling or just a fence?
Suggestion for webcam security systems: If you have power in the area you want to protect, put a web cam on the secure storage area. My webcam has an email on motion detect feature, set the cam up in your storage space and have it email your home machine. Setup a script to jam your music when it receives an email from the cam. Now you wake up at 5am when someone enters your space. Clear now has wireless internet for $20/month. So this type alarm only costs $100 for the cam, $100 for modem, and $20/month for subscription. Not terrible if you have a remote location with a lot of value.
That sucks.
If I had a $4,000 bike it would sleep in my bed with me. My building has ‘secure’ bike spaces, but all of my bikes stay in my apartment with me.
You know, I’m not exactly proud of this, but there’s something about the words “high end” and “Pearl District condo” that preclude my feeling any true sympathy here. Write to me about the single mother making $20,000 who can’t bike-commute to work now because her $200 Trek got ripped off and I’ll send her a check today.
R-diddly: You’re right, you shouldn’t be proud of that sentiment, it’s a pretty lame thing to post.
R-diddly,
No one in this story is asking for financial support. They just want their bikes back and they want other folks to be aware of what happened so it doesn’t happen to them.
thanks.
#12 – R-diddly
I can understand feeling worse for someone of lower means but don’t hate on those who happen to have a couple of nice bikes. I make not much over $20K/year and I have some pretty nice bikes, I don’t have a condo or a car but that’s another story. If one of my bikes got stolen I’d be hard pressed to replace it.
I’d love to have a pair of Moots bikes and a condo, but I don’t. That doesn’t mean I have to focus some envy on someone who does. This thief will likely happily steal from anyone they can so don’t get all preachy or it will be hard to sympathize when your ride gets stolen too.
Patrick’s wife here: Thank you all so much for the nice comments. We’re not asking for money, or sympathy – just for some creep who ruins people’s day to get CAUGHT! The point is – he’s NOT DONE STEALING! Even police think this guy is getting brazen. I don’t care if he stole a Huffy – it’s someone else’s joy he’s ripped off! Lot’s of good memories for PW in that saddle. (Probably not so good for the rest of you that he swept pace during race seasons!)
For the record: The bikes were in a PRIVATE storage locker, not the usual community bike room – which no one should use!!! He uses some massive crow bar to open the doors. He hit several in our building, but got the goods in our unit! I recommend getting a second deadbolt if you’re in this situation.
To get in: The guy is breaking into secret lock boxes in the front of condo buildings to get to the keys that are locked up in other boxes that let the cable, power, phone, etc. folks into the buildings. He’s done this at several condos now – so LOOK OUT! That means he can wander the ENTIRE BUILDING. It’s scary to think of that little fact.
Also: He comes in wearing bike gear, so as not to look too suspicious… and that red jacket he’s wearing? ALSO STOLEN from another condo building. I know he’s hit “The Edge,” and “The Gregory.” (There are others – don’t know the names.)
I just feel bad no for anyone who has their stuff stolen. Heck – Patrick is so kind he probably would have given the guy his bike if he needed it, (Ok – not that one – maybe my junker?) but my point is no one has the right to TAKE it!
Let me know if we can do anything to help anyone else find their stolen transportation!
Jonathan, can you please describe the “locked private storage unit.” Was it a flimsy cyclone fence enclosure typical of many apartments and condos?
This same thief is presumed to be the one who stole a couple of bikes from the Tudor Arms (NW 18th and Couch) last month. Here are the links to the forum posts about that:
http://www.tudorarmspdx.com/hoa_forum/topic.php?id=27 (Bianchi Roger SS stolen)
http://www.tudorarmspdx.com/hoa_forum/topic.php?id=28 (Iron Horse full suspension bicycle stolen)
Personal storage spaces = BIG no no!
I’ll be on the look out and if I see this bastard I’ll gladly dispense some u-lock justice on his sorry ass.
I’m sure our thief in question would love to have fewer teeth and be u-locked by his neck to a bike rack with “bike thief” sharpied on his face.
Ok, rant off. We should actually try to get him arrested, convicted and jailed, but even good folks can have moments where we dream of retribution!
This is deeply unfortunate. I hope this guy gets caught soon.
@ #12 – R-diddly
Pretty lame attitude.
I suspect you’d feel more sympathy if the article said “SE Hawthorne” instead of “Pearl”. I hope you never find yourself the victim.
Sorry to hear about the bikes…
I’ve had 3 stollen, and I hope the thief gets a U-lock to both kneecaps.
I feel really bad that this happened and I agree that R-diddly should be more sensitive. I feel bad for EVERYONE who gets their bikes stolen. That being said, with bikes stolen every night why is this blog-worthy news?
QUICK UPDATE:
Josh from CyclePath saw the guy riding it!!!!!!!! (Knows it’s P’s bike because HE BUILT IT!)
Tailed him for 2 miles, lost him, police are circling a a neighborhood near 29th and Quimby!!!!
HOW CRAZY IS THAT!!!! Fingers crossed they find him, find the bikes, and find other people’s stuff!!!!
Maybe he lives around there? Keep your eyes peeled in the NW section of P-town!
Mike – Pictures of the thief make this blog-worthy. Bikes ARE stolen every night and it sucks, but in this case someone might be able to help catch him.
Anita – awesome, thanks and good luck!
(btw this is E from Castaways. 😉
A few things come to mind:
1. Municipalities need to find a way to bring back local bike registration services. Every town in the US used to have one and in many towns it was mandatory. I’m told cities can’t afford the costs of administering such a program, but I think that’s just a lame indicator of where priorities are. After all, we’re still required to carry license and registration for our cars, right?
1a. In the absence of institutional concern for and vigilance about bicycle theft, some vigilante behaviour (in the recovery of a bicycle) is not only understandable but in some cases downright appropriate. If you see this guy’s bikes and can safely get them back, by all means do so! You’ll be a hero.
2. Any apartment or condo manager that absolutely refuses to met me park my bike INside MY living space is an apartment or condo manager that will never get one thin dime from me. I recognize that choice isn’t so clear for everyone but it’s clear for me, and I have managed to keep a roof over my head for decades while holding fast to this standard.
Thanks Anita for letting us know! That’s very exciting. If you could keep us posted as you learn more, that would be great.
I updated the story to reflect this development.
That sucks so bad! I hope the bikes are recovered. Any plans to do outreach to other apartment buildings in the area to warn bicycle riders living there to take extra care with locking up?
Also, did the bikes have serial numbers?
I feel for anyone, regardless of their income level, when a low-production/handmade bike gets stolen. These bikes are fairly unique, and usually every single part is hand-picked. It’s like stealing someone’s dream.
Print a face shot….
Oh…somebody get a picture of this guys face.
please please please.
#24..Josh “lost” him…??
that sounds very un-Josh like…unless Josh was driving and the guy was running stop signs/lights…
hopefully its not some other dude ridin’ a Moots around NW…
O snap! Find this guy and mash ‘im up.
Guy will be *lucky* if the cops get to him first …
A friend of mine just lost two high end downhill mountain bikes stolen from their secured condo storage in the same neighborhood just a month ago. I wonder if its the same thief. I hope they catch this guy.
PDX Thanks for spreading the love!!
A couple of things I want to reiterate here:
Bounty on the bike remains at a grand each and lifetime entry to cross crusade.
Please be safe about this. The police are stepping up their efforts to catch this guy because he has been stealing more than fancy bikes. Call them immediately- Nobody get’s hurt.
Forgot to add that the security company is in the process of reviewing the tapes for more pictures, hopefully we will get a better face shot.
Let me rephrase:
JOSH didn’t lose him. His keen eye and mad skill is what allowed him to tail the jerk for two miles.
The sneaky snake slipped away into his little hole!
catch the guy and kaine him! hope i spelled that right!
On Patrick’s blog – “Find this guy and I’ll pay your entry fees to Cross Crusade for life.”
Oooh, he’s mine!
Based on where he was spotted, he’s probably got the bikes hidden in Forest Park somewhere. Some folks should go wait for him to show up at the end of Thurman with another stolen bike.
So not to get all nit-picky, but I’m pretty sure that bike shown in the lead picture of the thief is not a Moots.
Perhaps an old Scott Endorphin, but that’s not a Moots.
Is that pic from Patrick’s theft or from one of the other thefts?
That’s the cruddy bike he rode to the building. He rode OUT with two Moots, one at a time.
Forgive me… didn’t mean to type “cruddy”… that’s just how I feel about this entire ordeal and it’s late here on the East Coast! Good Night and happy hunting… and if that’s your bike he was carrying in… the guys are on it, too! Let all stolen bikes taken by this guy be found!
Yeah, that’s someone’s stolen “cruddy” bike.
Ya – I got ya! I KNOW it’s not cruddy. Again – poor word selection made during a frustrating week. I apologize!
That’s a distinctive jacket he’s wearing. Somebody knows who this scum**** parasite is.
PDX you rock!!! It’s killing me to be working out of town this week, otherwise I’d be canvasing NW. I like the idea about perhaps he’s stashing them in FP.
I’ve been getting a lot of requests for what the bikes look like- I updated my blog with some pictures.
No worries Anita. I’ll still be looking out for the guy. I want a lifetime of Cross Crusade!
ugh sorry to hear about your bikes getting stolen.
Your home/condo owner insurance is likely to cover the theft, and sometimes, even car insurance ( believe it or not ) if you happen to own one.
I hope they are found or you are reimbursed, and the thief apprehended.
Looks like he’s bare-handed. A little DNA recovery would be a nice find.