Owners geared up over bike’s return

PORT COQUITLAM: RCMP deliver shop’s stolen cycle

It’s a one-of-a-kind, carbon-fibre road bicycle and hope was fading that it wouldn’t be recovered after it disappeared following a June 17 break-in at the Cap’s Westwood Cycle store in Port Coquitlam.

But last weekend, the $13,000 bike that was mysteriously taken from the showroom of the store was handed back to the business by the Coquitlam RCMP.

When store manager Chelsea Hobbis, 27, heard that the bicycle, built and painted by Trek to celebrate the store’s 75 years in business, had been recovered, she admits she was shocked.

“It was, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it,’ ” Hobbis said of the red Trek bike that was built by the factory and given to them in 2007 to commemorate the family’s many years in the bike-shop business.

Hobbis went public after the theft to get the custom bike back, but given the speed in which criminals fence off bikes and parts, she had little hope of seeing it again.

She notes how the family took a lot of pride in displaying the Trek Madone bike and said it had great sentimental value to the family.

“There was nothing that could replace that bike,” she said.

Once they got the bike back, Hobbis said it appeared the thief was preparing to sand off the lettering to unload it. Nothing else was taken in the break-in, which was puzzling to the business.

“They were definitely preparing to strip it down,” said Hobbis of the bike.

She said the damage is minimal, but the circumstances surrounding the theft nags her like a bad saddle sore.

“When the police called and said they have the bike back, it was the coolest feeling ever,” she said.

Despite the recovery, the RCMP have yet to give the family any details about what happened.

“Understandably the RCMP could not say anything to protect the integrity of the case,” she said.

“I want to know how the break-in happened. I am very curious and want to know who did this.”

Coquitlam RCMP Sgt. Tim Sylvestri said they can’t comment on the case until charges are approved.

“It is still under investigation,” he said.

GERRY KAHRMANN/PNG Manager Chelsea Hobbis gestures Tuesday in Port Coquitlam as Glen Hobbis, owner of Cap’s Westwood Cycle, holds up the 75th anniversary Trek bike that was recovered by RCMP after it was stolen from the store on June 17.