By Natalee Kerr
A thief has apparently returned $15,000 worth of stolen bikes to a Belmont business, according to its owner,
Belmont Bicycle Centre owner Shane Hendrickson was “absolutely shocked” when he found the bikes outside his premises on Tuesday morning.
The bikes had disappeared in a burglary the previous week, he said.
“To have goods stolen and then given back is completely out of the ordinary. It’s very bizarre,” Mr Hendrickson told the Indy yesterday.
He believed that the alleged thief returned the bikes.
“He did the wrong thing by stealing them, but to return them was the good thing to do.
“Maybe he morally learnt something.”
Police alleged a male offender drilled a lock cylinder off a door to enter the store around 2:50am on 11 June.
He removed external CCTV cameras before stealing three bikes, police said.
The bicycle centre burglary was the latest in a series of raids on the store after four teens stole $20,000 worth of bikes and caused $15,000 damage in April.
Last week’s burglary was the “worst possible timing” as Mr Hendrickson’s insurance was due for renewal, he said.
“My premiums went up by 25 per cent after the April break-in. I couldn’t afford to put in another insurance claim.”
The recent break-ins had taken an “emotional” toll on Mr Hendrickson and his family, he said.
“You start second-guessing what you do. “We work really hard with our business and next minute people take that away from you.
“It’s a bit of a kick in the guts.”
Police had six potential suspects for the latest burglary but Mr Hendrickson was “just happy” to have the bikes back, Mr Hendrickson said.
“It did get to me but getting the bikes back has put me back in spirit.”
The decade-long Belmont business operator said last week’s break-in was the fifth at the store in three years.
“Things have slightly changed around Belmont. The crime seems to be much more noticeable now,” he said.
Police this week also appealed for help to solve two other Belmont burglaries.
Burglars stole a trailer and golf buggy from a residential address and an array of equipment from Belmont’s Target Rifle Club, police posted on social media this week.
Mr Hendrickson urged council and local government to “step up” security measures around Belmont.
“More needs to be done to help people’s wellbeing and safety,” he said.
“We could definitely do with more surveillance cameras in Belmont and High St.”
