Police in upper Manhattan are looking for a bicycle bandit who allegedly swiped a high-end ride in the dead of night, and they are asking neighbors to help crack the case. A 25-year-old man told officers he had parked his bike near West 160th Street and Broadway on April 28, only to find it gone around 2:36 a.m. Investigators say the suspect took off westbound on Broadway, and the bicycle is estimated to be worth about $1,300. Officers released images of the man and the bike and are hoping someone in the area recognizes one or both.
The NYPD followed up with a wanted alert on Facebook on May 13, posting surveillance photos and asking the public to message @NYPDTips or call the Crime Stoppers tip line, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers. The online notice labels the incident a burglary, notes the victim’s age and the estimated value of the bike, and urges anyone who recognizes the rider or the bicycle to check their doorbell cameras and phone videos for anything useful.
How to report tips
Tips can be sent confidentially to NYPD Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), messaging @NYPDTips, or using the NYPD’s online tip form, according to NYPD public information. Police stress that tipsters may remain anonymous and that some tips could qualify for rewards. Investigators also ask anyone with potential video evidence to keep the original file intact and avoid compressing, editing, or reposting it before sharing it with detectives.
What investigators released
The Facebook alert shows images of an unidentified man who, according to the post, removed the victim’s bicycle from the area and then headed westbound on Broadway, per NYPD Crime Stoppers. The post pegs the time of the theft at approximately 2:36 a.m. on April 28 and lists the bike’s value at about $1,300. Anyone who thinks they recognize the person in the photos or the specific bike model is asked to get in touch with Crime Stoppers and share any details or footage that might help.
Why it matters
Bicycle theft is hardly new in Manhattan, but the quick snatch-and-ride style has become a recurring headache for city cyclists and police alike. In recent years, local coverage has highlighted crews using bikes as getaway vehicles and a string of grab-and-go robberies that play out in seconds. Previous reporting has documented similar sprees and NYPD appeals for help identifying cyclists involved in robberies, which can make stolen bikes tough to trace once they are out of the neighborhood. Because pricier bicycles are often flipped quickly, officers say fast tips and clean, unedited footage are key to recovering gear and making an arrest; for more context, see coverage of bicycle bandits snatching headphones.
If you have information
Anyone who has information, video, or other evidence is asked to preserve the original files and contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or use the NYPD’s online tip form, per NYPD public information. Witnesses may also message @NYPDTips on social platforms. Police say the case remains under active investigation and thanked the public in advance for any help identifying the suspect.
