Couple's tandem bike stolen, but this story has a happy ending
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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Harly and Courtney Forbes were prisoners in their own home after thieves blocked their door and robbed the couple of their tandem bicycle, which was the only way for them to get around.
The Forbes were sleeping when it happened. And even if they wanted to, the couple probably couldn't have gone after the thieves. Harly said the thieves took a rocking chair on the porch and wedged it against the door.
The couple lives with Courtney's mom in Vancouver. They're both sweet and compassionate but also developmentally disabled. Neither drives.
"It's kind of romantic to have a bike for two," Courtney says.
The husband and wife rely on their $900 tandem bike to go everywhere together.
"It's our transportation. That's our only transportation," Courtney says. "I don’t like riding by myself because I have anxiety. I like riding with my husband."
Just before seven on Monday morning, the crooks cut the locks and grabbed the Forbes' bike right from their front porch.
The suspects, however, appeared to have been recorded on camera in the act of stealing the bike.
At 6:48 a.m. a neighbor's surveillance camera captured three people heading down V Street toward the Forbes' home. Three minutes later, and moving a little faster, they can be seen going back the other way with what looks like the Forbes' bike.
Vancouver police detectives are using the video to look for the suspects.
It's the second bike someone's stolen from the Forbes this winter. But this story does have a happy ending.
Richard and Jackie Riordan came to the Forbes' aid after seeing the story in The Columbian, KATU's news partner. They just happened to have what the couple needed.
The Riordans had a beautiful tandem bike custom built several years ago. The idea was they'd ride together. But it turned out Jackie wasn't as keen on riding tandem as she thought she’d be. So the bike's been just sitting in their garage.
The Los Angeles transplants say the generosity of folks in the Northwest has rubbed off on them.
"Everyone seems to be so generous," Jackie says. "If we didn't do this someone else would or they would have donated money so they could buy a bike or something. And this happens all the time here."
The bike was purchased for $4,000 but as Richard says, it's not worth much if it's not being used.
Second bike stolen? They didn't learn the first time? Put that bad boy inside! Super nice of that couple to donate a bike to them. They could have made a pretty penny on CL for that. There are still good people in this world. :-)
Bike theft in the tri-county area is exploding. Not just high end bikes are being taken; every size and style is fair game. They are being stolen by druggies who then either sell them their-selves or to one of the mass sellers you see on craigslist.   At the very minimum lock it to a pole, but the best is inside your LOCKED garage or house.
The theft was not so random because the thieves came equipped to break the lock on the gate. Must have been scoping it out. Hope they catch these merciless thieving  weasels. Going to be hard to try and move such a distinctive -looking stolen good as that bike. So glad to know that the CA couple donated theirs. WOW! Generous! Please someone help these kids figure out bullet-proof security for this new bike at home during the night.
what  a wonderful ending to this story, Yes folks in the Northwest are friendly and giving
Nice touch Mr/Mrs. Riordan!Â
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4 grand...wow! They better invest in some U-locks or park that baby inside.