9 Investigates: Thieves target bicycles in uptown area

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bold and brazen thieves across Charlotte are stealing bikes, ripping them from racks and selling them for cash.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the crime is growing so quickly, they're now dedicating officers to stopping bike thefts.

Leonardo Soto kept his bikes locked in his apartment complex storage in Midtown Charlotte, but it didn't stop someone from swiping both of them in May.

"They just undid the hinges," Soto said. "So when I saw it, the door was open and the bikes were gone."

Across Charlotte, nearly 600 bikes were reported stolen in the last year.

It's such a problem, especially in uptown, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Central Division dedicated two officers to the cases.

Officer Russ Faulkenberry told anchor Allison Latos they've identified one suspect so far.

"His name is Shawn Smith. I believe he is originally from South Carolina but he's been targeting bikes in the uptown area inside the loop," Faulkenberry said. "We have 12 active warrants on him now for bike thefts and possession of stolen property."

Channel 9 went with officers as they searched for Smith for weeks and was there as they brought him in to police headquarters.

Officers said Smith and other bike thieves often sell the stolen items at pawn shops.

Police recovered a bike from a shop off Freedom Drive they say Smith stole then sold.

Police scour pawn shops and websites like Craigslist but finding stolen bikes is a huge challenge.

Bike owners often don't know important information like the bike's unique serial number.

The numbers are engraved between the pedals.

Officers are now trying to spread the word to cyclists citywide.

They want owners to register their bikes, which helps police identify stolen ones and return them to the rightful owners like Soto, who got his bike back two weeks ago.

"The fact that the police in the city are taking charge of that feels great actually," Soto said

Bike owners can e-mail Faulkenberry with their bike description and serial number at dfaulkenberry@cmpd.org.

Cox Media Group