Dear Editor
Twice this summer my husband and I were victims of property crime. In mid-July our truck was stolen off the street in front of our Battleford home. An uncharacteristic lapse in diligence gave young miscreants access to keys in an unlocked vehicle. Identifying the truck left abandoned in a rural area south of town was difficult, as it had been thoroughly torched.
A mere 10 days later, three bicycles were stolen from an area between our house and our neighbours’. Two were of little consequence, but one was my 25-year-old Norco five-speed touring bike, a Mother’s Day gift from my family. I loved that bike.
It was always locked up. When they were younger my kids teased me about that. “Mom, your bike is so dorky no one would ever steal it.” The thieves had bolt cutters as evidenced by a garden shed break-in nearby the same night. The cable lock was no deterrent to them.
My husband and I cruised back alleys for a few days and checked out the community safety officer warehouse, but it was gone. I was sad.
I’m a social media Luddite, but my daughter spread the word using a generic photo to illustrate my loss since I had no photo. One night recently she and her brother dropped by to return my precious relic to me. It was abandoned in an alley not far from our home and was recognized.
I’m still not a social media user but I bow down to its power. Thank you to all involved in my bike’s return and a stiff kick in the butt to those who thought taking the world’s dorkiest bike for a spin was a thrill. Get a life.
Becky Doig
Battleford
