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Seattle man steals back his stolen bike

BY Kim Shepard  on August 3, 2012 @ 10:27 am (Updated: 3:38 pm - 8/3/12 )

ellsworth
Matt Goyer's custom bike was stolen last year, but just recently was posted for sale on Craigslist. (Photo courtesy Matt Goyer)
A Seattle man thought he had seen the last of his $2,000 custom bike when it was stolen from his condo garage last year. But now he is reveling in revenge.

Matt Goyer told the Ross and Burbank Show he spotted the bicycle advertised on Craigslist recently. It was obvious to Goyer the bike was his.

"It was a custom built bike, and I had put two different types of tires on, a Kenda on the front and a different one on the back, and it was pretty clear in the photo that it had my unique tire combination on it," said Goyer.

He called Seattle Police to notify them that his stolen property had been found, but he was told they were too busy to get involved. So, Goyer arranged to meet the seller himself. He pretended he was interested in buying the bike.

"I was like, 'Hey, can I take it for one more test drive?' And he was like, 'Sure, no problem.' So I just got on it and never looked back," Goyer said.

Goyer later texted an apology to the seller, along with a picture of himself on his newly rediscovered custom bike.

Kim Shepard, KIRO Radio Reporter
Kim Shepard is a news anchor and reporter for KIRO Radio and the office optimist. She's energetic, quick to laugh and has a positive outlook on life.
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Comments (24)


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  • Torqueboy wrote...
    I would post the guy's address
    August 3, 2012 12:37 pm
    At the very least I would contact Craigslist and make sure he's blacklisted for selling stolen property.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Not in Seattle
    August 3, 2012 12:38 pm
    they will soon arrest the original owner.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JDE-Tacoma wrote...
    Hmmmm...
    August 3, 2012 12:45 pm
    I sure hope that was the thief and not some poor schmuck that had bought it and realized it wasn't the right fit and tried to cut his losses. Glad the owner found his bike though.
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  • Newton wrote...
    The real owner should apologize to the thief.
    August 3, 2012 1:34 pm
    The laws are on the side of thiefs for trying to make a buck anyway they can. Police should ticket the owner for hurting the thiefs feelings. Thats the way it is in the U.K when they take your rights away. Uphold the second amedment join the NRA.
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  • murr wrote...
    Im glad this guy (the owner) is nice
    August 3, 2012 1:47 pm
    This is why I could not be in L/E. You know who I would held accountable. Thanks for giving the idea, it might not of been this guy that stole it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    My Two Cents...........
    August 3, 2012 1:52 pm
    Based upon 2 different tires was enough for this guy to make a judgement call that this was his bike?

    I used to think I had a really unique looking car until I saw someone in a parking lot trying to use a key to get into it and stopped them.

    Their car was parked a couple of rows over and they couldn't figure out why the automatic thingy didn't work and the key didn't do anything.

    They had the exact same car,same year, same trim, same rims, same tire brand, same tire SIZE (mine are over-sized ), same interior color. We kept them in really good shape, so it was hard to tell the difference!

    Maybe this guy has the right bike..........errrr....maybe not?

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  • Troll Hunter wrote...
    hpygolkyone
    August 3, 2012 8:30 pm
    He made a judgement call not solely on the tires, but also by seeing the bike itself. His bike was custom built, which means it was designed to his specifications and body build. Each custom bike is unique because of this and anyone who has one can tell their bike right away. The "seller" should be happy that the police were too busy, and the police who were too busy should be fired.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Bikes have serial numbers
    August 3, 2012 2:41 pm
    Most idiot owners don't record them
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • qd6906 wrote...
    One serious problem though...
    August 3, 2012 3:40 pm
    ...the thief knows where the guy lives (maybe not the exact condo, but that could be observed I'm sure).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diverphil wrote...
    To busy to get involved?
    August 3, 2012 4:15 pm
    I guess the Krispy Kreme was having a two for one sale.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • manabouttown wrote...
    no police involvement?
    August 3, 2012 4:35 pm
    so if police were involved, the owner would have had to prove the bike was his. I don't doubt that the owner recognized his bike..despite what other's here imply..custom bikes are different than cars parked in the same row in a dark parking garage... I've customized a bike, and I would know without a doubt if it was mine or not. If the seller was actually not the thief... and I bet he probably wasn't, then did the real owner do the right thing? I'm going to say...yes.. buyer beware that you've got a stolen piece of property. I'd like to hear a follow up from the seller.
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