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Heritage Bicycles Mechanics Assist Cops In Catching Bike Thieves

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 24, 2014 2:20PM

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Photo credit: Matt Baker

Heritage Bicycles is getting a lot of positive publicity today after bike mechanics at the Lakeview shop assisted police in nabbing two juveniles who stole a bike from a customer.

Heritage Bikes managers received an email Monday from a customer who purchased a custom made fixed gear bike, saying it was stolen from the basement of his apartment building. Mechanic Ben Feitz received an email from a friend later that day saying one of Heritage’s bikes was for sale on the “Chicago Bike Selling (Fixie, BMX, etc.)” Facebook page. The post, allegedly written by a female, indicated her boyfriend bought the bike for $799 but he was too small for the frame and was selling it for $200.

That’s the first sign the bike may have been stolen.

Another bike mechanic named Sam (who didn’t give his last name to the Sun-Times) offered to pose as a buyer for police. Sam was supposed to meet the buyers at an Albany Park McDonald’s and raise his hands above his head to stretch as a sign the deal was happening. Police didn’t wait for Sam to stretch, however, and arrived at the McDonald’s to arrest the two juveniles, who were charged with felony burglary and possession of stolen property.

Heritage operations manager Derek Lewis told the Tribune he and his staff routinely comb through Facebook and Craigslist posts for stolen bikes.

“But actually getting those kids to show up with the bike, and trying to snag it, and trying to get them before they’re sold or disappear, is very hard.”