Southlake police are searching for a bicycle bandit they say took a $6,000 bike out for a test drive and never came back.
It happened May 15 around 1:30 p.m. at the REI store at 1011 East Southlake Boulevard. Police say a Hispanic man, clean-shaven and about 6 feet tall, strolled around the store for about 45 minutes before asking if he could take a pricy Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 129 bicycle, valued at $6,374, out on a test drive.
"And this guy got on, plopped on a helmet and just … rode away," says Officer Brad Uptmore with Southlake police. "It's a pretty hefty theft."
Uptmore says it’s not really clear at this point whether the theft was planned or simply a crime of opportunity. Usually, REI requires people to show their ID in order to do a test drive, but for whatever reason, this man’s ID wasn’t taken.
Surveillance cameras did manage to capture relatively clear images of the culprit. Now police are asking anyone who recognizes him to come forward.
"If your Uncle Dave who doesn't have a job is riding around on this $7,000 bicycle, maybe be like 'Wait a minute..." Uptmore says. "We'd take any information."
Anyone with information regarding the bike bandit is asked to contact Diana Smith at dsmith@cityofsouthlake.com or call her at 817-748-8915.
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