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SALT LAKE CITY — Police are looking for a man who broke into a bike shop in Salt Lake City and took off with two of the most valuable bikes in the store Thursday morning.
In less than a minute, the thief smashed through a glass door and got away with about $6,000 worth of bikes from Cycle Smith on 250 S. 1300 East. A security camera caught the thief in the act.
Manager Weston Brown said based on the video, the thief knew exactly what he wanted.
“He came right for the most expensive bikes in the shop that he knew wasn't locked up and hidden in the back,” Brown said. “It's one of the most expensive bikes in the shop and the second-most expensive bike we have.”
Once the man put the first bike worth about $3,500, outside the broken door, he quickly came back in to get another bike that is valued at about $2,500. Unfortunately for the thief, both bikes have serial numbers that can be tracked anywhere in the United States.
“If they try to get pawned anywhere in the country, they'll be red-flagged,” Brown said.
Police said the suspect is about 5-feet-7 with an athletic build and was covered from head to toe in dark clothes.
He came right for the most expensive bikes in the shop that he knew wasn't locked up and hidden in the back. It's one of the most expensive bikes in the shop and the second-most expensive bike we have.
–Manager Weston Brown
"(It's) a big disappointment to humanity, you know, for somebody to be able to do something like that to a small shop like this,” Brown said. “It's just sad.”
Brown actually lives in an apartment directly below the shop but wasn't able to get upstairs in enough time before the thief took off. He believes the the thief was likely a previous customer.
Police said burglarizing a building that has residents ups the charges.
“If you're burglarizing a building that's occupied, it's certainly a felony,” said Salt Lake City Police detective Dennis McGowan.
The police are asking for the public's help to look for the bikes and identify the suspect.
Brown said both bikes are known as Fat bikes, meaning they have bigger wheels and comfortable seats. One is black and the other is red.
If anyone has any information on this crime, contact the Salt Lake City Police at 801-799-3100.