For two Barrie police officers, recovering a stolen bicycle became a reminder that even small victories can make a big difference.
This began in June when a Barrie mother posted on social media that her son's bike had been stolen from their east-end home, despite it being locked. She included a description of the bicycle and photos in hopes someone might recognize it.
The post caught the attention of Barrie Police Constable Michael Bradley.
"I saw the victim's mother's post on Facebook and reached out to her to get more information, and then I spoke with her son. A lot of bike owners don't write down serial numbers, but there will be distinguishable features on a bike unique to that bike, like a scratch, dent, or an added accessory," stated Bradley.
After gathering details, Const. Bradley shared the information with officers on his platoon. He and Constable Kory Kennedy later located a bicycle matching the description.
The boy's mother posted to Facebook that she was worried when two police officers pulled up in front of her home, but added they "couldn't have shown up for a better reason."
She said she never expected police to help recover the stolen bike.
"I can't even put into words how amazing it was to see my son's bike returned, but even more than that, to know that someone cared enough to make it happen," she stated.
Const. Bradley said stolen bikes can have a major impact on victims, noting they can be a way for people to get to work, manage stress by getting to the gym, or be a gift a parent worked hard to afford.
"There's no better feeling than giving back and letting people know we care," Bradley said.
Const. Kennedy added that while police can sometimes get caught up in the negativity of the job or focusing on finding the suspect, moments like this remind officers why they wear the uniform.
The recovery of the stolen bicycle may have seemed like a small win, but for this Barrie family, it was an important one.
