Neighbor’s surveillance images help police nab bike theft suspects

Surveillance images helped police track down two teens suspected of stealing a west Madison resident’s bicycles last week, police said.

Madison police said a homeowner on Ondonssagon Way reported that two bicycles were missing from his garage on Friday. One bike was worth $2,800; the other $760. The bikes were believed to have been taken Thursday at about 10:30 p.m.

The two bikes had since been recovered, according to the report. The more expensive bike, which was missing pedals, was found dumped in the neighborhood. The second was discovered abandoned at Woodman’s Food Market on Gammon Road. 

The victim’s neighbor had images of the bike thieves from a home security system recording, police said. The teens were also seen on Woodman’s cameras using a machine to exchange coins for dollars.

West District officers used the images to identify the Madison teens, a 15-year-old and 16-year-old boy.

Both boys were arrested and taken to the Juvenile Reception Center on tentative charges of party to the crime of burglary.

Police also said there have been West District reports recently of coins stolen from unlocked vehicles and bikes taken from garages.