WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Three bicycles stolen, 1 recovered

Three bicycles were stolen from Mark‘s garage in North Admiral Thursday night/early Friday. One has since turned up in the Junction QFC dumpster, spotted by employees – intact – and reported to police, with whom he already had filed a report, so that’s how he got it back. The other two are still missing:

#1 – Silver/gray and blue 2014 Giant Trance 27.5 1, serial number starting with GR313, XL frame, wide tires. Mark notes that the “bike’s rear wheel was in my possession when it was stolen, so if it shows up, it will either be missing a rear wheel or have mismatched wheels – should be easy to spot.” Photo:

#2 – Silver/gray and red 1998 Giant Iguana SE, L frame, wide tires. Mark notes, “This is a 1998 Iguana with some of the original Rock Shox, so it’s pretty easy to spot. Has been updated with bar ends, deeper-dish Vuelta wheels, and outfitted with a rear rack and bag + fenders for commuting.” Photo:

If you see/find either, contact police and refer to incident 17-276013.

Just Wondering July 30, 2017 (10:59 am)

Did they break into the garage?

WSB July 30, 2017 (11:04 am)

The garage was accidentally left unlocked, Mark said. That’s still burglary/theft.

Mark F July 30, 2017 (11:25 am)

I’m the owner – yes, can confirm we accidentally left our garage open overnight, and the bikes were stolen then. As the blog mentions, one has since been recovered and returned to me – big thanks to the responsible employees at the QFC for reporting it and to the SW precinct of the SPD for tracking it and returning it to me. And thanks WSB for spreading the word!

BTW – the pics are swapped. ;)

WSB July 30, 2017 (11:28 am)

Sorry, fixing.
steve o. July 30, 2017 (12:52 pm)

didn’t find that particular bike , but did find a bike bag like the one pictured in our garbage this morning
- Mark F July 30, 2017 (3:04 pm)
  
  Wow! That would be pretty coincidental for it to not be my bag. Were there some winter lobster style cycling gloves and a chain lock inside?
  
  Would you mind contacting me through the “Contact the owner” link at the right hand side of my stolen bike page on bikeindex.org?
  
  https://bikeindex.org/bikes/348025

Mark July 30, 2017 (11:46 am)

Getting your bike stolen sucks. I had a bike stolen last summer, cops wrote a report BFD. The City has failed the bike community via its poor arrest and incarceration rate of the thieves.

I lock my bike in my garage.

Mark F July 30, 2017 (12:46 pm)

Yep, that’s the plan going forward.

Also going to be sure to register all my and my family’s bikes on bikeindex.org/ and 529 Garage.
Wb July 30, 2017 (10:39 pm)

Yep, and after losing mine, my new bike lives in my apartment.

Diane July 30, 2017 (12:51 pm)

What bike was recovered.. just so I can keep a eye out for the other one.. were always out on our bikes.

WSB July 30, 2017 (1:37 pm)

The bike that was recovered is *not* shown here. Both of these are still missing.

West Sea Neighbor July 31, 2017 (8:05 am)

I think I saw the Trance on Saturday outside of Starbucks in the Junction. I remember it in particular because it had mismatched wheels, which seemed odd for what looked like an otherwise very nice mountain bike. It was left outside unlocked leaning against railing while rider was inside. I saw rider come out and get on it, and now I’m trying to remember what he looked like. I’ll continue to keep an eye out for it.

Mark F July 31, 2017 (10:15 am)

Thanks for the tip! That definitely sounds like it’d be the bike. Pretty bold of the guy to be riding the bike around W Seattle after he stole it… Please let me know if anything comes to mind again. And/or contact the SW precinct of the Seattle PD at (206) 733-9800 and refer to incident 17-276013.

Much appreciated!

Mark F August 4, 2017 (2:42 pm)

A quick update in case anyone references this down the road. The second of my 3 stolen bicycles (#1 above) was recovered, this time by the King County Sheriff’s office. They took a man into custody in White Center Tuesday who was riding my bike. He’s being charged with drug possession and bicycle theft. That’s all the details I have on it. (bike #2 above is still missing…)

I’d like to note that the sheriff’s office was able to trace the bike back to me because I had registered it on bikeindex.org. When they acquired the bike from the thief, they were able to cross reference the bike’s serial number with the bikeindex database, and they contacted me through the web interface here: https://bikeindex.org/bikes/348003

So, I would highly encourage the readership to register their bikes at bikeindex.org – it could make the difference in getting a stolen bike returned or not. They’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit as well – all the more amazing they provide this service to the public.

And again, big thanks to the deputies at King County and SPD for being diligent in tracking me down to get my bikes back to me.

Sorry, comment time is over.