Toronto Cyclists Retrieve Stolen Bikes with Sting Operation

A Toronto couple, owners of a bike shop, had their high-end bikes stolen. They set up a sting operation to retrieve them, involving friends and a meeting with the thief. The couple hid in an alley and confronted the thief, recovering one bike and using a photo of the thief as leverage to get the second bike back. Toronto police were initially unhelpful, but the couple's efforts were successful. Bicycle theft remains a widespread issue in Toronto.

A Toronto couple, owners of a high-end bike shop, recently retrieved their stolen bicycles through a daring DIY sting operation. The incident, which occurred last week, highlights the persistent issue of bicycle theft in the city.

Noah Rosen and Suzanne Carlsen, who run VéloColour, a Toronto bike shop known for its unique, high-end bicycles, discovered their bikes were stolen when a thief cut a hole in their fence and rode away with them. The couple, who had lovingly modified the bikes, were not about to let the theft go unchallenged.

The theft was captured on security footage, and the couple quickly shared the ordeal on social media, hoping that someone might recognize the unique bikes if they were resold. On Sunday, Carlsen spotted an ad for a Surly Bridge Club bike that matched hers. This led them to set up a sting operation with the help of friends.

The couple confronted the seller in an alley, recovering one bike and capturing a photo of the thief. Using this leverage, they demanded the return of the second bike, which the thief left up the street with the key under the front tire. The couple successfully retrieved both bikes within 48 hours.

Toronto police were initially unhelpful, advising the couple against the sting due to safety concerns. However, the couple's efforts were successful, and they managed to bring their stolen bikes home. This incident underscores the widespread issue of bicycle theft in Toronto, with over a thousand bicycles stolen so far this year [1].

The couple's experience highlights the importance of documenting bikes with serial numbers and keeping up-to-date photos of modifications. If your bike is stolen, police recommend reporting it and including the serial number to increase the chances of retrieval.

References:
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/stolen-bicycles-sting-police-1.7598872