Noah Rosen and Suzanne Carlsen, owners of VéloColour, a renowned bike painting shop in Toronto, were faced with an unexpected situation when a thief cut a hole in their fence to steal their customized bikes worth over $5,000. Determined not to let go of their valuable possessions, the couple took matters into their own hands.
The incident unfolded as the couple was working at their shop when surveillance footage captured the thief cutting through their fence and riding off with the bikes. Carlsen, emotionally attached to her bike due to memories of a mountain trek in Kyrgyzstan, was deeply affected by the theft.
In a bid to recover their stolen bikes, the couple turned to social media for help, hoping to identify their unique bikes if resold. A breakthrough came when Carlsen recognized her bike in an ad on Facebook Marketplace. Despite reporting the theft to Toronto police, they were advised to provide evidence linking the ad to their stolen bikes, prompting the couple to devise a plan of their own.
With the support of friends, Rosen and Carlsen arranged a meeting with the seller, confronting him directly about the stolen bikes. Utilizing leverage, they managed to retrieve one bike and later received a remorseful message from the seller, leading to the recovery of the second bike.
The swift resolution surprised the couple, considering that over a thousand bicycles have been reported stolen in Toronto this year. While the number of thefts has decreased gradually over time, incidents tend to peak during the summer months. Toronto police cautioned against such direct interventions due to safety concerns, emphasizing the importance of reporting thefts promptly and providing serial numbers for identification.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Carlsen acknowledged the rarity of recovering stolen bikes and highlighted the significance of having serial numbers for proof in similar situations. The couple’s proactive approach, although successful, underscored the risks associated with confronting thieves directly, a decision that Rosen emphasized should be based on individual comfort levels.