Sarasota thieves targeting online bike sellers while posing as buyers

Two teens charged in string of bike thefts

FOX 13's Kim Kuizon reports on the Sarasota Police Department investigating a number of cases of stolen bikes as part of a ring that's taking advantage of people during the height of the holiday season.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Sarasota sellers advertised their bikes were for sale online, and even met up with the potential buyers and let them take the bikes for test rides. But, they wound up empty-handed when those buyers turned out to be thieves.

The Sarasota Police Department said they are investigating a number of cases of stolen bikes as part of a ring that's taking advantage of people during the height of the holiday season.

In fact, a seller agreed to meet with a potential buyer of his e-bike in the 1800 block of 21st Street in Sarasota's Newtown after getting a message on Facebook Marketplace.

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"He said he didn’t have no way of getting to my place," the man, who was not being identified by FOX 13, said.

The seller came with his e-bike expecting to make a sale.

"I took it off the bike rack, I showed him how to run it, and he said, ‘Do you mind if I try it out?’ I said ‘no.’ If you’re going to buy a bike you’ll want to try it out," he said.

However, what happened next turned the seller into a victim. He said that "potential buyer" took off with the bike and never returned. It's one of several cases SPD has identified.

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"Here I’m trying to help a person. At the time, I didn’t know who I was going to face. I knew he was awful young," the seller said.

In each of the cases identified by the police department, sellers agreed to meet around the 1800 block of 21st Street or 22nd Street South in Sarasota. Cynthia McLaughlin with SPD said they are seeing the stolen property from the victims being relisted on the same sites.

Sarasota Police went undercover on Tuesday and arrested two teenagers for the theft of two e-bikes.

"Officers attempted to purchase one of the stolen bicycles," said McLaughlin. "This group they met up with yesterday afternoon listed two bikes for resale."

The officers were met by two 15-year-old boys. When they went to arrest both, one of them ran away and threw a gun, which was reported stolen out of Pasco County, into Whitaker Bayou.

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"What could have happened when a firearm, a stolen firearm at that, that’s loaded with a red dot sight is in the hands of children, it’s extremely concerning, and we are proud that our officers prevented any further situation from happening," said McLaughlin. "We are here talking about stolen bicycles and not something much worse."

As they continue to investigate these cases, Sarasota police are asking sellers to safeguard themselves.

"You really have to trust the buyer and the seller are both being honest and full of integrity," said McLaughlin.

SPD shared the following tips for sellers:

Meet in a Safe Location: Use the SPD Transaction Safe Place located in the lobby of the Sarasota Police Department at 2099 Adams Lane. The lobby is monitored and open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week.
Bring a Friend: Avoid meeting strangers alone. Having someone with you can increase safety.
Schedule Meetings During Daylight Hours: Meet during the day in well-lit public areas.
Avoid Large Amounts of Cash: Use digital payment methods when possible.
Do Not Allow Test Drives Without Verified Collateral: If you plan to allow a test ride, ensure buyers provide verified identification or other legitimate guarantees.

Officials encourage sellers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. If you’ve experienced a similar theft or have information about these incidents, please contact the Sarasota Police Department at (941) 316-1199 or Sarasota Crime Stoppers at (941) 366-TIPS (8477) or online at sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

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