HOUSTON – Joel Hegemeyer, of West Houston, said his bicycles have taken him around the world and helped him raise money for charity. That's why he was devastated to discover two of his bikes were missing from the storage shed behind his home.
"I've raised a lot of money with these bikes," Hegemeyer said. "That's why it means a lot to me.
He reported the theft to Houston police. He said he then got on Craigslist and saw a picture of one of his bikes and contacted the seller. He said he then set up his own sting.
Hegemeyer said, "I see this kid -- young man --riding around on my bike. That was the tip to tell me that was him."
He said he met the man while police were watching.
"I said, 'This is my bike,' and he took off running," Hegemeyer told Channel 2.
He said the police later took the man into custody. He said he did not like what the police told him next.
Hegemeyer said, "(The officer) gets off of the phone and he comes over to me and says, 'Sorry, the DA's Office is not going to want to press charges on this. I'm going to have to let him go."
The Harris County District Attorney's Office said it did not decline charges. Instead, a spokesman for the office said it told the investigator to sort out the facts and bring prosecutors the report.
Investigators said the man first told them that he knew the bike was stolen and was selling it for a friend. Police said the man later changed his story.
Hegemeyer said he has his most expensive bike back, but not his other bike. He said he wants charges filed. The District Attorney's Office said charges are still possible.