If someone were to steal your bike and bring it back a week later, what would you do?
If you are a bike shop owner and the machine came from your inventory, you most likely would call the cops, which would be understandable—and what Anthony Karambellas did.
He is the manager of The Cyclist shop in Costa Mesa, California. A week earlier, Paul Verdugo Jr. took a $5000 BH Ultralight Evo Disc for a “test ride,” leaving only an ID card. Apparently, Verdugo built a rapport with shop staff based on his knowledge of bikes.
But Verdugo decided to return the bike, not out of any sense of guilt, but because he was “tired of being recognized,” as he told Karambellas when he called the shop. He took the bike because he’d been a “bike geek” all of his life but couldn’t afford the bikes he wants. That revelation, not surprisingly, helped the authorities to connect him to other thefts from area bike shops.
Karambellas gave the call to shop owner John Marconi, who arranged for a Lyft car. He also assured Verdugo that there weren’t any police officers at the shop.
Marconi, of course, fibbed. Officers hid in the bathroom and in a delivery van outside the shop.
Verdugo faces charges for stealing, not only the bikes, but the ID card he gave when he took the BH for a “test ride.”
He is the manager of The Cyclist shop in Costa Mesa, California. A week earlier, Paul Verdugo Jr. took a $5000 BH Ultralight Evo Disc for a “test ride,” leaving only an ID card. Apparently, Verdugo built a rapport with shop staff based on his knowledge of bikes.
But Verdugo decided to return the bike, not out of any sense of guilt, but because he was “tired of being recognized,” as he told Karambellas when he called the shop. He took the bike because he’d been a “bike geek” all of his life but couldn’t afford the bikes he wants. That revelation, not surprisingly, helped the authorities to connect him to other thefts from area bike shops.
Karambellas gave the call to shop owner John Marconi, who arranged for a Lyft car. He also assured Verdugo that there weren’t any police officers at the shop.
Marconi, of course, fibbed. Officers hid in the bathroom and in a delivery van outside the shop.
Verdugo faces charges for stealing, not only the bikes, but the ID card he gave when he took the BH for a “test ride.”
Hmm. Several years ago, i was in a Milwaukee area Schwinn shop and was admiring a beautiful all-chrome Paramount hanging from the ceiling. Just out of curiosity, i asked about the price.
ReplyDeleteThe manager told me the bike wasn't for sale and told me why:
Back in the early 70's they built up the bike for display. One day shortly after opening time, they noticed the bike was missing, apparently having been walked out the door when no one was looking.
About ten years later, the bike mysteriously reappeared on the shop floor with an attached note of apology from the thief. Seems he took the bike but never rode it out of guilt for his misdeed. Eventually, he felt remorseful enough to return it.
Last i heard, that bike still hangs there as a reminder to keep an eye on the shop floor.
Mike--What a story! I am almost tempted to take a trip out to that shop!
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