Bike Recovery Action Teams

03/02/2025

Sometimes helping the community is a little different than usual. Since volunteering to locate, identify, recover and reunite stolen bikes for their legal owners, on occasion a community member unknowingly purchases a stolen bike.

We are often able to get the buyer to relinquish the bike to its legal owner - this is the case with this Surly Instigator 2.0.

Buyer Scott, a disabled US Coastguard veteran purchased the bike so he could ride with his kids. He returned the bike to its owner. The man that aold it to him will be held accountable to some degree but we are doubtful he will refund Scott.

Our goal is $600 - Please check out the GoFundMe campaign - donate if you can. Buyer Scott is an incredible guy - no hesitation to return the bike.

Thank you!

A bike thief creates two victims — the person the bike is stolen from and th… Tracy G needs your support for Support for Scott - Funds Lost Buying Stolen Bike

09/06/2024

Dear Seattle and beyond — What a crazy, unique month! We have been assisting legal owners recover their stolen bikes, stolen bike racks — and aiding buyers who have unknowingly purchased stolen bikes recover monies paid to buyers.

Bike Recovery Action Teams is a grassroots group, fully volunteer, with our mission being reuniting stolen bikes with their legal owners. Donations are appreciated but never required. Even the smallest donation helps our cause! We have a Venmo account and use the funds for gas and our burner cell phones to stay safe while interacting with nefarious sellers and associates

If you’re so inclined, consider donating to Bike Recovery Action Teams Venmo:

08/29/2024

If you have had a bike rack stolen in the greater Seattle area and beyond (PNW region) please consider joining PNW Stolen Bike Racks.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lynnwood PD is looking for the original owners of the bike racks. If you believe you're the owner of these bike racks please contact LPD Detectives: 425-670-5628.

On August 27, 2024, Lynnwood Police Department detectives arrested a 46-year-old male in the 4800 block of 200th St SW after conducting an OfferUp “buy back” operation. Investigators learned a Seattle victim recently had their bike rack stolen from their vehicle. The bike rack was listed for sale online where it was discovered. With the assistance of advocates in the biking community, the Lynnwood Police Department scheduled a time to “purchase” the items. Surveillance teams in the area located the suspect walking into his apartment. He was arrested and a search warrant was executed on the apartment. Inside of the apartment, investigators recovered the stolen bike rack along with several other bike racks the investigators believe to be stolen. The suspect was booked for Trafficking Stolen Property in the First Degree as well as a felony Department of Corrections warrant that he had at the time of his arrest.

05/12/2022

Deja vu —

Bike Index post from two years ago is aging well!

This past week alone we have been asked to help find and recover 6 Rad Powerbikes - of which two have been recovered - and a bonus one “found” with no theft-loss victim ID’d yet.

Rad Power Bikes are the #1 make of bike stolen in the greater Seattle area. Locking to a live tiger seems apropos!

Black 2020 Rad Power Bikes Rad Rover, serial: RC119F1000059. Stolen 2020-06-08 from 9th and Jefferson, Seattle, WA, US.

08/06/2021

We’ve started a dedicated fundraiser for Nicole Nicole’s recovered Rad Runner Plus. Nicole personally recovered her bike — and it’s at the shop getting much needed repairs.

Check out - and donate to - the GoFundMe link provided!

Donations can also be sent to BRAT Seattle Venmo - - and note “For Nicole’s RAD”.

Thank you!

Nicole’s Rad Runner Plus was stolen July 23rd. Reported sightings and persever… Tracy Bernier needs your support for Repairs for Nicole’s Recovered Rad Runner

08/06/2021

Victim of bike theft in the greater Seattle area? Drop your BikeIndex.org links in comments - no matter the date of theft. Bike Index works!

The best bike registry: Simple, secure and free.

07/09/2021

We’re off to Eastern Washington! We will return on Monday, July 12. DMs will be monitored. Peace!

06/19/2021

“In the beginning …” and Bike Index works!

06/11/2021

We now have a dedicated Venmo specifically for … gas money! Complete with a card to use at gas stations! Donate if you’re so inclined. Peace!

06/08/2021

We spotted a listing on “The Thieves Bazaar” OfferUp - called VanMoof Seattle - and with their “Action-Figure” Madden, S3 was recovered in head-spinning time. A “full conversation” about VanMoof bikes will be coming soon! This recovery certainly needs rehabilitation! Bike was not listed on Bike Index — but look for more VanMoof’s to be registered there!