Four Bend teens charged in string of bike thefts

The recent thefts of a half-dozen bikes left unlocked and accessible in a northeast Bend neighborhood were solved with the arrest of four teens, police said Sunday. They warned residents to take steps to prevent such summertime crimes of opportunity.

Officers were dispatched around 9:25 p.m. Friday to one of the reported bike thefts in the area of Northeast Purcell Boulevard and Spinnaker Street, said Sgt. Elizabeth Lawrence.

As they responded to the victim’s home, officers spotted a boy riding what appeared to be the stolen bike, Lawrence said. The youth did not stop as told by officers.

After a search of canal roads in the area, officers found and detained four boys – a 13-year-old, two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old – who Lawrence said were responsible for the theft of six bikes in the area, one from an open garage.

The youths were detained on charges of second-degree burglary, first- and second-degree theft and interfering with police. Lawrence said they later were released to their parents.

Lawrence said police “would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to secure bicycles and close garage doors when not in use.”