Bicycle shop is repeatedly the victim of thieves
Bikes and Hikes in West Hollywood was targeted by thieves three times in three weeks. Fortunately, the first two attempts were unsuccessful. The third attempt was successful, however, and the thieves were able to steal bikes worth several thousand dollars.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, California. – The owner of a West Hollywood bike shop is stepping up security after his business was targeted by thieves in the space of three weeks. The first two times the thieves were unsuccessful, but the third time they succeeded, and on Tuesday the thieves were able to steal bikes worth thousands of dollars.
Bikes and Hikes has been on Santa Monica Boulevard for 15 years. Owner Danny Roman said his business has been a victim of thefts over the years, but nothing compared to what they’ve experienced recently.
Surveillance video shows the thieves breaking into his store on Tuesday. Two masked and hooded criminals were able to unlock the door and looked for onlookers before going inside.
“(They were) here for over an hour, broke in, came into my store, took bikes, took them out, came back in, took more and came back out,” Roman said. “Fully masked. On one of the busiest streets in LA.”
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Roman is still tallying up the losses, but says the missing bikes could be worth more than $25,000. Among the stolen bikes are some that are being serviced before the group heads to Burning Man.
“They’re all going to Burning Man tomorrow and they’re totally freaking out,” Roman said. Luckily, Roman said, they were able to get new bikes in time for the festival.
Roman said he believes Tuesday’s thieves are the same ones responsible for the other attempted break-ins. After the thieves smashed his store window the other two times, Roman is offering a $1,000 reward to get the criminals off the streets.
He also spends thousands more to equip his business with additional cameras, replace the windows, and improve the security gate.
“We’re having these shutters installed tomorrow, which are very, very expensive,” Roman said. “So this is basically going to be Fort Knox here.”
