Three stolen cargo bikes recovered in Oslo
What started as an ordinary Monday morning in Oslo quickly turned into every cyclist’s worst nightmare: not one, but three cargo bikes stolen overnight. For Valter, a long-time BikeFinder user, this moment became a powerful reminder of why bike tracking matters, even at home. Thanks to BikeFinder’s precise location data and rapid response from local police, a frustrating morning transformed into an unforgettable recovery story.
Here’s Valter’s story:
Monday morning started the way Mondays usually do: quiet, a bit too early, and with the feeling that only coffee could help me function. I had barely opened my eyes when my phone buzzed with a message from my neighbor. “Hey, you should check your front garden. Both of your Load75 bikes are gone. Mine is also stolen.”
I stepped outside, and what I saw was both unreal and unsettling: there was now nothing where my two cargo bikes normally stood. And my neighbor’s bike had vanished from his yard as well. Three bikes gone without a trace overnight.
“I never thought my bikes would be stolen from my own property.”
– Valter, BikeFinder User
I never thought my bikes would be stolen from my own property. That’s why I had my tracker notifications turned off (I have it in standard mode as opposed to security mode) when I am at home.
At 09:00, I called BikeFinder. They responded quickly and were able to send location data for both bikes. One with very high accuracy, the other a bit less precise. It gave us a place to start.
Around 10:00, I drove to the location with the most accurate signal. And there, without even an attempt to hide it, my bike was parked by an apartment building, locked to another bike. I called the police, and they arrived shortly after. They cut the lock, handed the bike back to me, and as a bonus, they also found the thief nearby and arrested him on the spot.
I brought the bike home feeling relieved, but still wondering what had happened to bike number two.
Later that evening, around 20:00, the BikeFinder app suddenly notified me that my bike was being moved. The thief was moving.
“Later that evening, around 20:00, the BikeFinder app suddenly notified me that my bike was being moved. The thief was moving.”
– Valter, BikeFinder User
I called the police again, and we agreed to meet where the signal pointed. But just before we arrived, the thief must have realized someone was coming and he fled with the bike. We tried to follow, but he disappeared into the darkness. Eventually, we decided to call off the search for the night.
I was almost home when my phone rang again. The police had gone back to the area to keep an eye out and sure enough, the thief returned. This time he didn’t get away. He was arrested on the spot.
In total, two people were arrested that day. Both of my bikes were recovered, and my neighbor’s bike was found as well. All thanks to BikeFinder and the quick, targeted work of the police.
A Monday that started out completely ordinary ended with a story I won’t forget anytime soon.”
A note from BikeFinder
Valter’s experience is a strong reminder that bike theft can happen anywhere, even at home. With BikeFinder’s tracking technology, both of his cargo bikes and his neighbor’s bike were recovered, and the thieves were apprehended the very same day. Stories like this are why we continue to innovate and support cyclists across the Nordics and beyond.
Watch the thief attempt to steal and ride away with Valter’s bicycle!
