Bike theft ring busted in Midtown area, deputies say

HOUSTON – KPRC viewers are eagerly awaiting more information about how to get their stolen bikes back after an on-the-ball Harris County deputy constable discovered dozens of bicycles stashed at a Midtown home.

It took two flatbed wreckers to haul the 64 stolen bicycles into evidence storage after they were recovered from a residence in the 1500 block of Truxillo between La Branch Street and Almeda Road.

“I was not expecting to see that many bicycles,” Harris County Deputy Constable Joe Bowden said.

Bowden did the sleuth work, tracking stolen bikes, posted for sale online, to a specific address.

Deputy constables identified a prime suspect at the scene, but released him for the time being, pending further investigation.

Bowden, who is in the initial stages of his investigation, believes the bikes were stolen, then brought to the residence and stashed there.

The bikes were then advertised as being for sale on different sites and social media groups, according to Bowden’s early findings.

Bowden said he wants to reunite the bicycles, one of which was valued at $4,200, with their owners.

The entire load of stolen bicycles is valued at more than $20,000.

Presumably, most of the victims live in the vicinity of Midtown Houston.

Bowden said the process of finding rightful owners starts with an email directly to him at joseph.bowden@cn1.hctx.net.

Owners must be able to definitively prove ownership and the easiest way to do that is through serial numbers, his office said.

“We are willing to work with people, but they need to have a way to prove ... the bike we have is their bike,” said Leo Flores, public information officer.

KPRC2 Investigates' Joel Eisenbaum was on the scene and went live on Facebook. You can watch it below.

Exclusive: Midtown Stolen Bike Bust...

Posted by KPRC2 Joel Eisenbaum on Wednesday, May 30, 2018