PPB case # 26-127583 and [original post](https://www.reddit.com/r/Portland/comments/1t2xquk/bikes_stolen_from_garage_in_west_tabor_and_car/)

  
Miraculously, we got all three of my partner's stolen bikes back! Here's how it all happened:



The bikes were taken early Sunday morning from our garage in West Tabor (we believe thieves broke into her car and took the remote). That day we made a police report, posted on Project 529 and Bike Index, and spread the word on social media as widely as we could (including a $500 reward per bike).

  
On Sunday evening, a good Samaritan heard about the bikes being offered for trade in Creston Park in exchange for a tent. He got a pic which showed the Epic and the Creo, confirmed they were ours from the Project 529 listing, and got a nice tent to make the trade. He actually ended up with the Epic and the Vado and did not see the Creo at the park. We picked the two bikes up from him in a parking lot and paid a reward!

  
From that experience, we learned that we should focus our search on the Creston Park area. We also learned that although they had taken very valuable bikes, they were probably lower-level types just looking to convert to quick cash or a tent etc. We also got a tip in r/CyclePDX to go to homeless camps and advertise the missing bike and reward. As two fairly small women, we didn't end up being comfortable enough to approach anyone on foot, but we put up flyers advertising the reward with no questions asked. 



As we circled Creston Park and Foster-Powell several times over the last few days, we also saw (we're pretty sure) the people who originally stole my partner's bikes. They seemed to be based out of an RV which we saw in the Creston Park parking lot and on Francis & 42nd. We put flyers on the telephone poles all over their area on Monday, Tuesday, and this morning. We saw two other confirmed stolen bikes while we were investigating, too (and contacted their owners).

  
It paid off early this afternoon (Wednesday) when my partner got a call from a blocked number. The dude said he'd seen our flyer for the Creo, knew where the bike was and had to go get it, wanted the reward in cash and wanted to make sure he wouldn't "get in trouble." We just asked for a picture of the bike to confirm and agreed he wouldn't get in trouble (i.e. we didn't tell the cops we were going there or film) and met up with him in the Creston Park parking lot. It wasn't one of the two original thieves, but it was a guy who seemed to be connected to them that we had seen around the RV. Nonetheless we made the handoff and we were absolutely thrilled to have 3/3 bikes back, including the last which was her very favorite!!

  
All of the bikes are missing some accessories like bags/bells/frame pump, but they seem fundamentally OK! We'll get them all checked out at bike shops in the near future. And we've learned some valuable lessons about garage security and bike security. 



We know that we are so, so lucky but also wanted to share this whole process in case it helps anyone else going through this. The registries, offering a reward on flyers around sketchy areas, and the time we were able to dedicate to driving around made a huge difference. My partner is a designer who worked on all of these bikes, so she had a huge sentimental attachment to THESE particular bikes. We were willing to pay a reward for these exact bikes back, not just a replacement.

  
On the topic of replacement - everyone check your renters/homeowners insurance policy and make sure there isn't a shitty little exclusion for e-bikes. My insurance (USAA) was set to deny coverage for the pedal-assist Creo as a "motor vehicle or other motorized land conveyance" despite covering bicycles. For more on this, check out u/flicus 's [post in this sub from 3 months ago about dealing with this exact issue and getting USAA to pay out through a complaint with the OR Dept of Consumer and Business Services](https://www.reddit.com/r/Portland/comments/1qnxj1z/the_lengthy_process_of_getting_a_stolen_e_bike/)

Stolen Specialized bikes update - ALL RECOVERED