Seattle's 'Bike Batman'

Guardian article on a Seattle stolen bike crusader-

A Seattle man dubbed “Bike Batman” after he started confronting thieves and returning stolen bicycles to their owners has spoken out publicly for the first time about his mission to “reunite people with their bikes”.

The married engineer, who is in his 30s, and has been quietly tracking down stolen bikes for the last year, spoke to the Guardian on the condition of anonymity amid increasing curiosity about his identity, motives and methodology.

In a telephone interview, which he said was the first fully-fledged discussion with a reporter, Bike Batman requested anonymity for his safety and so he can continue to chase bike thieves without them catching on to his scheme.

He was however happy for the Guardian to publish a photograph of him riding a Dutch bicycle and wearing sunglasses after he explained the elaborate sting operations he has perfected – sometimes in cooperation with the police.

Bike Batman said he has returned a total of 22 bicycles in Seattle after he turned vigilante and started tracing thieves online in 2015. “It’s kind of fun,” he added.

The man said his nickname initially came from a discussion with a police officer who suggested he be called “Robin Hood”. Since he wasn’t exactly stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, Batman seemed a better fit.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/15/bike-batman-seattle-...

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on April 30, 2016 at 10:07am

Link appears to be broken...

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on April 30, 2016 at 10:20am

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/15/bike-batman-seattle-...

Fran; link not working . . . for me? . . . Call the 'Link Batman'.

Great article - great guy. . . . We could use him in Wicker Park! . . .