Latest News

Stolen E-Bikes recovered from Venice Theives


Person who had 3 of electrics bikes stolen out of his garage was able to recover them, with the unwilling help of LAPD. Here is his story he posted:

Three Bikes were stolen out of our garage last night on Strongs. "What follows is a crazy story and then a warning (see picture) to watch out for a RV encampment where we found two of the bikes.

Apparently for garages thieves now can use third party remotes to unlock your doors.

Fortunately, I had Airtags embedded in two of the bikes and using them was able to locate and recover ALL of them this morning.

One was in a garage in The Pearl, the other was at an RV at the corner of Canal and Grand Canal (off North Venice).

After sitting on hold with the non-emergency response for LAPD for an hour, was able to get a dispatch that came to the house. Filed a report and then showed the officers the locations of the bike on “Find My”.

They were very skeptical that they could do anything (they said the Airtags were inaccurate and if it located in an apartment they’d need a warrant which would take ‘three days’.) We urged them to go to the sites anyway.

They called 20 min later at one of the sites where they found one bike in an open garage, but locked up (with the lock and keys attached to my bike that the thief still had). Ran over with a spare key and unlocked my bike — was still in rideable condition. One down.

They drove by the second area and said they couldn’t find my bike, but my wife walked over and saw the tires of one bike under a tarp next to this RV (see picture). She stayed close to there while we got the police to come over to recover. This time they asked for my phone to “ping” the airtag to find the other bike, ID’d it, and we found the third bike under the tarp next to it. The police got those other two bikes.

I asked if they were going to at least knock on the door of the RV to ask questions and they were resistant — basically like “what do you want us to do”? — and given this was a felony (all the stolen bikes were over $1k) I was like “this is felony property theft aren’t you going to at least question the person?”

Anyway long story they finally knocked on the RV where the guy denied everything and that was that. At least we have our bikes back (sans chargers, the thief’s were smart enough to take them).

see the RV where the bikes were recovered, on corner of Canal and Grand Canal. again no “proof” this guy stole my bikes (I mean they could have been placed at his RV under tarps without his knowledge lol) but occam’s razor. Pics of the police recovering these bikes.

Recommendation to put Airtags on your bikes! and secure your garages. Our camera didn’t catch the thief but we just put in another camera this morning as well as enabling a remote sensor to alert if it is opened. We’re obviously on edge after the attacks and rapes in the Canals last weekend.

Stay safe and smart. Crime is out of control. I’m generally on the side of compassion but things have gotten out of balance here. But feeling grateful to have recovered these bikes (my main form of transportation)."

« PREV
NEXT »

No comments

Post a Comment