Minneapolis has been a hotbed of stolen bikes for a few years now. I remember several friends getting their high end dirt bikes stolen in the 80's, only to show up in a Chicago police auction two years later.
There was an article in the local paper about bike thefts in 2019 and mentioned the Project 529 site which is one of the largest bike registries.
Bike theft is at a five-year high, and Police Department data obtained by the Star Tribune shows almost 4,300 bikes reported stolen since 2017.
The rash of thefts frustrates cyclists and police, who don’t always have time to track down stolen bikes amid other more serious calls. But for thieves, selling stolen bikes — some valued at more than $4,000 — can be a quick way to make hundreds of dollars.
I had no idea someone had started a Facebook group for stolen bikes called "Twin Cities Stolen Bikes" where people can go and report their bike and ask for help.
There was an article in the local paper about bike thefts in 2019 and mentioned the Project 529 site which is one of the largest bike registries.
https://project529.com/garage/
From the 2019 article:
Bike theft is at a five-year high, and Police Department data obtained by the Star Tribune shows almost 4,300 bikes reported stolen since 2017.
The rash of thefts frustrates cyclists and police, who don’t always have time to track down stolen bikes amid other more serious calls. But for thieves, selling stolen bikes — some valued at more than $4,000 — can be a quick way to make hundreds of dollars.
https://www.startribune.com/bicycle-thefts-hit-five-year-hig...
I had no idea someone had started a Facebook group for stolen bikes called "Twin Cities Stolen Bikes" where people can go and report their bike and ask for help.