On Wednesday, March 29 Patrol Officers and the PROACT team were able to recover a very expensive bicycle that was stolen sometime overnight from the garage of a Bothell home.
It appears the bike-owner's toddler somehow got hold of a garage-door opener, and expertly activated it.
Unfortunately, no one noticed... except (one or more) thieves - who gained easy access to the home's garage- and two expensive bicycles inside.
However, hidden inside one of the bikes was an
Apple AirTag.
That tracking device helped Patrol Officers and the Bothell Police PROACT team locate and recover the bicycle from a property about 20 miles north of Bothell, where someone had just paid (and lost) $250. The person in possession of the bicycle had just purchased the stolen bicycle from a group of unknown suspects, who were long gone when officers arrived.
Officers retrieved the bicycle and also gathered additional evidence, including a folding knife found in the garage where the theft took place.
Unfortunately, no updates (yet) on the other stolen bicycle (a gray Cannondale Synapse Carbon).
But recovery is still possible, thanks to the owner's excellent records (including photos and serial numbers and other identifying information).
The owner was very happy to have one of his bicycles returned, within hours of the theft.
Our officers love happy endings and were glad to be of service.
For reference, this is case #23-00005683.