A Pennsylvania dog-kennel employee says their e-bike was stolen in broad daylight from behind a neighboring veterinary office while they worked about "50 feet away."
Here's what to know
The e-bike owner then shared their story to Reddit's r/ebikes community.
According to the Reddit thread, the bike was taken shortly after 2 p.m. from an area behind a veterinary office next to the kennel where the owner works, near Interstate 81 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Security footage showed "a tall figure" emerging from the tree line, "already dressed for the job at hand, including wearing a face cover and hood."
The original poster added that "I parked my bike behind the vets office every day… I take full responsibility for this, as I never lock the bike when I'm at work."
(Click here if the embedded video does not appear.)
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
The OP also said the e-bike was only about three months old and did not have an AirTag or any other tracking device.
One commenter noted that because the OP leaves the bike unsecured in the same spot every day: "This was definitely planned, not an opportunist."
Other commenters clearly agreed, with the top comment reading: "I'm willing to bet this wasn't even his first time seeing the bike. He probably came back after seeing you just kept it outside like that unlocked."
What can be done?
Even in familiar places such as work, using a sturdy lock every time can reduce the chances of an easy grab-and-go theft.
Trackers can also help. The OP specifically noted not having an AirTag or similar device, and that kind of backup can make a major difference in recovering items after a theft. Additionally, parking in highly visible areas, removing accessories, and avoiding predictable routines may also help lower your risk of being targeted.
After pinning down the exact time of the theft, the OP said they planned to review additional footage and try again to get video from a neighboring hotel.
"When I get in tomorrow, we're gonna look at the rest of the footage. And although we went to the hotel on the opposite side of the veterinarians office and they told us they didn't see anything, now that we know exactly what time it happened and my boss has a good relationship with the people that run the hotel, we're gonna see if we can get their footage," they wrote.
Where can I learn more?
• An e-bike owner returned to find their bike vandalized while parked outside, with little clue who did it.
• One homeowner's camera caught a thief trying to steal an EV cable from outside the house.
• A homeowner discovered a neighbor had been stealing electricity in broad daylight at their property.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
