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MILLCREEK — A trio of smash-and-grab burglaries at bicycle shops in the Millcreek area overnight had investigators from two jurisdictions busy Friday.
Just before 5 a.m., someone backed an SUV into the glass doors of Millcreek Bicycles, 3969 S. Wasatch Dr.
Store surveillance video showed a man who first looked through the glass doors, got into his vehicle and twice rammed his rear bumper in the the store, shattering the glass doors.
I think it's almost comical how stupid someone can be. It's unfortunate we have to have all these procedures to prevent this type of theft for one stupid idiot. Most people are good people.
–Mike Hanseen
The man then walked into the store, took a bicycle and left.
"I think it's almost comical how stupid someone can be. It's unfortunate we have to have all these procedures to prevent this type of theft for one stupid idiot. Most people are good people," said bike shop owner Mike Hanseen.
Both police and Hanseen believe the man took the first bike he saw, a $300 green Gary Fisher Wahoo bicycle.
"There are $10,000 bikes in here," Hanseen said.
After seeing the surveillance video, store employees recognized the man as the same person who also allegedly committed a shoplifting incident a few months ago, a crime that was also caught on tape.
In that case, the man hid a device that records a bicycle's speed and mileage, inside the store. When he thought no one was looking, he slipped the device into his pants and walked out of the store.
A short time later, he walked back into the shop and demanded a refund for the item he claimed he purchased, Hanseen said.
"He was very animated with his hands. Very nervous. He definitely raised red flags," Hanseen said. "Very very jittery. He reeked of smoke. Not just like a regular smoker, but he made the whole store smell like smoke."
Millcreek Bicycle wasn't the only bike shop burglarized.
On Thursday night, just before midnight, two other bike shops were damaged by a dark color SUV ramming into them.
The Bicycle Center, 2200 S. 700 East, and Fishers Cyclery, 2175 S. 900 East, both had their doors damaged. There was no immediate word if any bicycles were taken from either shop.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 801-799-3000.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com
