Police arrest Fremont bike burglar

Meghan Walker Ballard

A 50-year-old man is in custody for stealing three bikes from a Fremont residence.

On Friday, North Precinct officers arrested the man after he was spotted with a stolen bike, which he was apparently towing behind a moped.

According to the SPD Blotter, during an early morning patrol, Officer John Randle was driving on the 3900 block of Phinney Ave N. when he spotted a man driving a moped with a mountain bike trailing behind. The officer began following the moped, at which point the moped driver released the mountain bike, leaving it in the middle of the road in order to make a quick getaway.

The police officer found a nameplate on the bike and returned it to its owner, who told him his garage had been burglarized overnight and that he was missing two additional bikes.

Police say the man then took a walk through the neighborhood hoping to find his stolen bikes, and happened to find one of his bikes at the intersection of Burke Ave N and NW 43rd St. He called Officer Randle and by a stroke of luck, the suspect pulled up to the scene just as police arrived.

The suspect then took off on his moped, fell off, and kicked in the door of a nearby building. After a brief standoff, the suspect decided to surrender. And, in another stroke of luck, a person approached and delivered the third missing bike to officers as they were wrapping up their investigation.

The burglar is now booked into King County Jail.

20 thoughts to “Police arrest Fremont bike burglar”

  1. Let’s see, Johnny Loser: broke into someone else’s garage. Stole personal property. Was blatantly, and seemingly without care, towing it in the middle of the road. Upon being spotted, promptly ditched stolen property into middle of said road, thereby creating a potential hazard for other drivers/pedestrians. Ran from the police. Returned to where he keeps his stolen loot, only to be chased by police. Kicked in the door of another property/thereby causing further property damage.
    And yet, there are going to be people here who say he needs our help. I say, nope. He’s now booked into county jail, and he needs to stay there. What else might they find at his humble campsite?
    I also say, good job Seattle PD, and thank you vigilant citizens for the assist. I’m glad this guy got his bikes back!

    1. “And yet, there are going to be people here who say he needs our help. I say, nope. He’s now booked into county jail, and he needs to stay there. ”

      Who paying for his housing, food and court costs in jail? I guess he IS getting our help after all. There, I said it.

      2. Wouldn’t you rather pay his food, housing, and court costs in jail out of the taxes you already pay, and pay only that amount? Or are you saying you’d rather pay taxes for our other ‘wayward’ souls, and also have this guy still loose on the streets to potentially take more from you (in the form of your personal property)?

      3. Ah, good. Here’s Surly with another typically awful take.

        The same Progs who wanted to start WW3 over some Rachel Maddow fake news also believe we should end jails and stop enforcing laws. Huh.

        Expecting consistency from these burning stars of brilliance is like expecting a cat to care about its owners. They DON’T.

        1. So you are saying I’m wrong lil bucky? It’s fact that we are paying for his housing, food and court costs in jail, right? So how is that an “awful take?” What’s your point? Facts are progressive? Denying facts is an awful take. Of course a conservative thinks facts are awful.

          1. either way we’re paying for this ahole – might as well be with him behind bars.

    2. Yeah, it’d be nice if in prison, he was given education and/or job training so we can rehabilitate him to be a productive member of society upon release.

      Instead, he’ll serve his punishment, get released with a criminal record and likely re-offend due to nobody wanting to hire him. US recidivism rate nears 75% after 5 years and there’s near zero willpower to do anything about it. We are #1 in prisoners per capita in the world and that doesn’t come cheap to US taxpayers.

      1. But there is a chance of rehabilitation, as you note and the recidivism rate isn’t 100% so prison seems the best place for both him and the community.

        1. Toad – just a guess, but I think a 50 yo guy caught stealing 3 bikes might have possibly been in the lock up before. Chances of him changing his lifestyle might be slim. But i am an optimist so maybe there is hope for him.

          1. Yes, HOPE. Good old HOPE. I HOPE he moves in with you. You can rehabilitate him. You can supply his drugs. You can supply him food and drinks. You can pat him on the head when he’s being bad too. Time to recall Pete Holmes

  4. I’m the homeowner who had my bikes, tools and other items stolen from my secure garage in Wallingford. Officer Randal contacted me after he spotted this thief riding a [stolen] moped in Fremont while carrying my $6,000 mtn. bike. I had my name on the bike and officer Randal looked up my address and brought the bike back to me. I decided to scope out around my neighborhood to see if the guy had stashed the other bikes so he could come back later and get them. Sure enough! I found the tools in my alley and one of my other bikes ($8,000 carbon road bike) down the street leaning up against some bushes. As I was collecting my stolen items, this idiot returns to the scene! I snapped a few photos with my phone and jumped in my car and began chasing him down. I called officer Randal and informed him I had the suspect on the run and he radioed his colleagues and together we chased him to a scrap yard at 45th and Leary Way. Eventually the suspect was arrested and I was able get all of my stolen items back. Thanks to Officer Randall and the officers of the North Precinct for your rapid response and follow through to apprehend this loser. Think like a thief and you can catch a thief. Carpe Diem

    1. TommyK – I applaud you! Thank you for taking the initiative and going after this guy. I know there are dangers involved in doing that but, like you, I am not willing to let these people get away with these crimes.
      I am so happy for you that you were able to retrieve all of you belongings. It really upsets me that there are people like this that get away with these crimes everyday.
      Thanks to Office Randal and all the great SPD officers like him that have to deal with this crap every work day.
      You are a hero in my book!

      1. Thank you…I’ve lived in my 105 year old craftsman in Wallingford for 13 years after a complete remodel. Have had relatively few incidents and this was by far the biggest burglary I’ve experienced. I guarantee this guy has been doing this for awhile. My main intent was to catch this guy to prevent him from continuing his theft spree. He clearly know what he was doing in breaking into my garage as I had taken steps to prevent any easy access. Thanks for your comments and thanks again to the good follow they by Officer Randal and SPD…

  5. I would love to see a SPD bike sting. If they did, I suspect 90% of the bike thefts would literally end overnight. I say that as someone who has had three bikes stolen in a timeframe of five years.

    1. yup. heaps of bikes at just about every encampment – “b-b-b-but they found them, they didn’t steal them”. this weepy unrealistic narrative is so old.

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