A True Story of Recovering a Stolen Buddy D1 with BikeFinder
Imagine waking up to discover your prized bike, stolen right out of your own garden
This nightmare became a reality for Gaute, an Oslo cyclist who woke up to find his beloved Buddy D1 missing. Stolen right from his garden, the bike was taken during the night, its lock cut, and moved to a remote industrial area. With the help of his BikeFinder tracker—despite a nearly drained battery—Gaute was able to locate and recover his bike. This is his incredible story of persistence and technology working together.
This is Gaute’s story:
“I’ve owned a Buddy D1 for two years now, complete with a child seat and a front basket. It cost 30,000 NOK when I bought it, but it’s been worth every krone. I ride it every day, all year round. When I first got the bike, the shop recommended the BikeFinder tracker. The idea of being able to locate my bike if it was ever stolen appealed to me, so I went for it.
Stolen out of the garden
On an early Friday morning, around 3 AM, the unthinkable happened. Two individuals sneaked into our garden and stole my bike. Unfortunately, my tracker had only 20% battery left when it got stolen and it lost connection after about 30 minutes.
BikeFinder support
“I reported the theft through the BikeFinder app and spoke with BikeFinder support over the phone. They guided me on how to balance the security and tracking modes, helping me conserve the tracker’s low battery during the recovery process.”
– Gaute, BikeFinder Customer
The next day, I suddenly saw movement on the tracker. When looking at the map, it was in a sketchy industrial area far from where it had been taken. The tracker’s battery was down to just 5% when it picked up more activity in the same area. That’s when I decided to investigate the perimeters.
Gaute’s stolen Buddy D1 bike was found with a new lock
I ventured into the industrial area, nervous and determined. Suddenly, my phone picked up the tracker’s Bluetooth signal – it was close. I followed the trail until I found a bike shed. There it was: my beloved Buddy D1. Its original chain lock had been cut and replaced with another one. I immediately called the police, and they came to cut off the new lock. After all the drama, I was finally able to get my bike back. What a relief!”
A note from the BikeFinder team
We’re glad that Gaute was able to recover his bike, though it’s unfortunate that the thieves remain at large—a harsh reminder that even a lock at home is not always enough to deter bike theft.