Half-Dozen Pricey Bikes Stolen in Sunriver
A year after getting a commuter bike as a Father’s Day present, Portlander Kurt Haapala awakened at his Sunriver condo Sunday morning to find it was gone — “kind of a drag.” But within a few hours, a citizen helped police recover and return his bike — but that left five others missing in a rash of overnight bike thefts at the resort community.
“The only thing missing was the light, which I guess he needed to get back across the golf course in the dark,” Haapala said of his REI-Novarra “Forza” model bike, worth about $800 and taken from the Wildflower Condos off Abbot Drive.
Sunriver police asked for the public’s help in finding whoever stole the six pricy bikes overnight, primarily from the south end of the resort.
The high-end bikes have a value totaling close to $8,000 and thus “are especially attractive to thieves,” said Sgt. Joe Patnode.
The other stolen bikes were identified as a Gary Fisher “Sugar” model, with carbon fiber components and worth close to $3,000, two Specialized-brand bikes (a Crossbike and a “Rock Hopper”) and two Cannondale “Quick 4” models, Patnode said.
Police said the rest of the bikes were mountain bikes, locked at the time with cable locks or similar theft deterrents, meaning bolt cutters or somesuch device was used to take them. But Haapala sheepishly admitted his wasn’t locked up overnight — “shame on me,” he said.
“We’ve been coming to Sunriver for six years, and you leave your bike out everywhere — at the pool, propped against a tree while youi get some coffee,” he said. “I guess I let my guard down.”
Haapala said the officers did a good job, calling back to gather details and then letting him know his bike was found — and now locked up, he said, adding that he uses it as both a commuter bike and for recreation.
Anyone with information recording the thefts was asked to contact Sunriver police at (541) 593-1014. You can also contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-TIPS, or use the form on KTVZ.COM’s Crime Stoppers page. You can remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
