An Independent reader reported to police that he spotted three kids with bolt cutters stealing a bike from behind an East Rock apartment building. He snapped photos of the work in action.
The alleged theft took place at about 12:30 p.m. Monday behind 91 Bishop St., according to the witness, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution. The witness, who lives in East Rock, sent in these photos and recounted what happened.
He said the bike was locked to a railing behind a large apartment building. On Monday, three young men rolled up on their bikes and started to “dismantle it.”
He called police to report a bike theft in progress.
“This is incredible!” he thought to himself. “This is broad daylight. They could catch them right here,” he said.
He said several factors led him to believe the bike was being stolen: One kid appeared to be acting as a lookout as the other two worked to remove the bike. The kids brought bolt cutters to do the job. And he recognized the bike as belonging to a neighbor. He’d seen the bike parked at that spot for at least a month, but he didn’t recognize the kids as living at that address.
The trio worked quietly, with serious expressions, to take the bike apart, the witness said. They removed the bike seat. Then they pulled out bolt cutters to cut loose the rest of the frame.
The witness couldn’t see everything. His view was partially obscured by a fence. He said he watched them and snapped photos for about one minute, and then they disappeared.
The kids made off with most of the frame — all except for one wheel (pictured) which they left behind, attached by a U‑lock to the railing. He wasn’t sure if the bike had been locked by multiple locks, or if the cyclist had failed to secure the rest of the bike.
A police officer arrived quickly, about three to five minutes after the call, the witness said. The photo-snapper was eager to share his photographic evidence with the cop.
“He wasn’t interested in my photos,” however, the witness said. The cop just asked what the kids looked like and how old they were, he said.
The East Rocker was disappointed. He thought the photos could surely help solve the crime.
“If they are truly community policing officers, then they should know who these kids are,” he said.
Instead, the witness posted the photos on Facebook and put them out through an Elm City Cycling email list in the hopes that someone would recognize the kids and get the bike back.