Getting a bike stolen is heartbreaking. That’s why we love sharing recovery stories. If you’ve been a bike theft victim and you’re feeling helpless, read a few of the stories below and we guarantee you’ll feel better.
Audrey and Neil Burkhardt, happily reunited with their bikes.(Photo courtesy Audrey Burkhardt) Late Tuesday night someone broke into Audrey and Neil Burkhardt’s garage and stole three of their bikes. Less than 24 hours later, thanks to the bravery and quick thinking of two bike shop employees, they got two of them back. Audrey shared with … Read more
See your bike? (Photo: Portland Police Bureau) The Portland police uncovered over a dozen stolen bicycles in northwest Portland today. According to a police statement, they received a call from the Biltmore Hotel (310 NW 6th Ave) after cleaning staff found that the room of an evicted tenant, “was filled with bicycles and associated parts.” … Read more
Jennifer got her bike back.(Photo: Jennifer Plaza) Add this to the many ways stolen bikes get recovered… On Sunday night, Timo Forsberg and his friend Vivian Yuan were chatting on NE 28th Street when a “shady dude” approached and offered to sell them a nice road bike. It was a Trek 2200, which retails for … Read more
Jennifer and her Linus re-united.(Photo: Jennifer Cree) We have a long tradition of sharing bike theft recovery stories here on BikePortland. While we’ve seen just about everything from police chases to citizen stings, one of the most common ways bikes come back is through the diligence and courtesy of well-meaning bike shop employees. In fact, … Read more
Stolen, then re-united with its owner.(Photo: Tanya Barham) A distinctive trike that was stolen on Tuesday is now back in hands of its owner. Buckman neighborhood resident Tanya Barham imported the Christiania trike from Denmark in 2006. When it was stolen from outside of a building at East Burnside and 8th, thieves not only got … Read more
It’s been clear to us around here for many years that when it comes to recovering stolen bikes, it’s not just technology and the long arm of the law that’s going to solve the problem; it’s good, old-fashioned community. As I shared last month, people helping people has been a mainstay of the many stolen … Read more
Portlander Jake Gillum poses triumphantly after his successful police sting in Seattle.(Photo: Jake Gillum) It’s been a good few days for bike lovers and a bad few days for bike thieves. In the past week I’ve come across three local bike recovery stories that deserve your attention. Each one of them shows the power of … Read more
Shop owner Wakefield Gregg set up the sting.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) A bike stolen from The eBike Store on N. Vancouver and Alberta two years ago has been recovered thanks to some citizen sleuthing and a sting operation by the Beaverton Police Department. The shop’s owner, Wakefield Gregg, checks Craigslist for stolen bikes everyday. His … Read more
“If the person looking to buy my bike from Goodwill hadn’t checked your site, I would have never recovered it… Thanks!” — A happily reunited bike owner It’s been a while since we mentioned our Stolen Bike Listings or shared a stolen bike recovery story. I used to keep track of every recovery, but after … Read more
Len Rubin, in blue, reacts to seeing his stolen bike.(Photos © J. Maus) A tearful reunion about an hour ago in a Sellwood parking lot culminated a 10-day search for a stolen bike unlike any other I’ve witnessed in years. Tamara and Len Rubin were distraught when the prototype folding bike Len had invested thousands … Read more
The bike, before a thief took it for a two-week joyride.(Photo: James Selman) It’s been about a month since the re-launch of our Stolen Bike Listings. And it’s a good thing we did. So far in July, we’ve had 63 stolen bikes listed. Today, I get to a share a story of how technology and … Read more
Police Officer Robert Pickett(File photo © Jonathan Maus) Police Officer Robert Pickett passes on the news that thew newly formed Southeast Precinct Neighborhood Enhancement Team, with help from the SE Precinct Bicycle Patrol, has uncovered a stash of stolen property. “The loot” he says, includes nine “well-loved bicycles”. Unfortunately, when he ran the serial numbers, … Read more