Police agencies work together to recover stolen electric bike

In a matter of seconds last Wednesday, Kirk Trowbridge’s brand-new electric cargo bike was stolen while he ran inside the post office to check his mailbox.

He called the police, posted a photo on social media and registered on a few bicycle-related websites.

 And then he waited.

 Trowbridge had owned the bike for only a week before it was stolen from the walkway in front of the US Post Office on Jefferson St. in downtown Olympia. At about 2 pm he went inside for “just a couple minutes” to retrieve his mail. He didn’t see the person or people who took the bike, but a witness told him that he saw someone loading something into a vehicle. That something might have been the electric bike.

 He is a self-employed carpenter and handyman and used the bike instead of his gas-powered vehicle several times to get to his projects. “It was fitting my lifestyle,” he said, adding later, “I was really disappointed. I had become attached to it.”

 The $1,699 RadWagon Electric Cargo Bike itself is very distinctive; it’s painted bright orange, has a cargo platform and has special wheels, Trowbridge said. The dealer’s website reports that it can carry up to 350 pounds and travels up to 45 miles on a charge.

 Trowbridge met with Olympia Police Officer Kenneth Collins, who took a report that included the bike’s features and serial number. Collins distributed the information about the bike not only to other Olympia officers but also to police agencies throughout the state.

 And then they waited.

 But not very long! Friday afternoon Ocean Shores Police Officer Daniel Fode noticed someone he didn’t recognize riding a bright orange electric bike. According to Ocean Shores' Deputy Chief Kyle Watson, Officer Fode interviewed “the gentleman on the bike” who told Officer Fode that it was his buddy’s bike and he was borrowing it. Officer Fode wished him a good afternoon and drove away.

 Returning to the police station, Officer Fode investigated and discovered that an orange bike meeting the description of the one he saw earlier had been reported stolen in Olympia. He hopped back into his patrol vehicle and drove the streets of Ocean Shores until he encountered the same “gentleman” again, this time arresting him for possession of stolen property.

 On Saturday, Trowbridge drove his work van to Ocean Shores and picked up his bright orange bike. He says he’s happy again. “For me, it’s important to not drive my car around. It felt really good to have something that got me out of my car.  It is amazing what you can get done on one of these bikes,” he said. “They’re fun to ride, practical, too.  The only thing that’s not practical is keeping them from getting ‘jacked.”