Two-time Paralympian Cathal Miller had two bikes stolen from his back garden at the weekend. One was his own modified machine while the other belonged to his wife who was preparing for an upcoming charity cycle. He managed to get his own bike back, simply because the idiot who took it advertised it on the country's biggest online marketplace (Photo thanks to Brendan Culleton)
By Brian Canty
One of the country’s best ever paracyclists had a fairly eventful weekend that saw his bike stolen but later turning up – only because the person who swiped it advertised it on DoneDeal.ie
Two-time Olympian Cathal Miller, the flagbearer for the Irish team at the 2012 Paralympics in London, had two bikes stolen from his back garden in Dublin while he was away.
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His own modified steed, a LOOK Xlite with a Dura-Ace groupset, along with his wife's Ridley were both taken.
The LOOK bike later appeared on DoneDeal.ie and would have been absolutely impossible to miss…so whoever stole it must have been in dire need of cash.
It was specially adapted to Miller, who only has the use of his left hand, and has all brakes and gears on the left shifter.
“We had two bikes stolen from our back garden,” he explained to stickybottle.
“They (thieves) came in through our neighbour's place, over a wall and took my LOOK xlite and a bike from my wife.
“But then the muppet put my bike up on donedeal and it stood out like a sore thumb because all the brakes and gears are on the left shifter.
“In fairness to all the cycling community, the amount of texts and phone calls and messages I got was incredible and the guards were unbelievably helpful too. I cannot thank them enough.”
Retrieving the bike seemed a lost cause for Miller but he first called the guards in Raheny to report the theft.
Then, by sheer luck, Miller’s friend Enda Smyth received a text saying the bike was up on donedeal with the seller's name given and a number to call.
“Between myself, my clubmates and the guards we tried to get him to sell it back so we arranged to meet in town," said Miller of what happened next.
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Miller’s friend in Clontarf CC called the number and they agreed on a price of €300 for the bike.
When that was agreed, Miller was relayed the message on the 'sale' and he called Store Street Garda station who put him in touch with the crime unit.
Through them the sting operation was planned and involved a guard in plain clothes and Miller’s friend, while Miller himself drove around the area near Connolly station where the meeting point was arranged for.
Things took a turn for the worse when the seller didn’t show for the pre-arranged 5pm meeting time on Sunday evening but just as they were all about to abort the mission the seller appeared with the bike.
“He was only a young fella about 17,” said Miller.
“He looked shell-shocked when he was apprehended. He was just a courier for the crime gang who probably gave him €50 for taking it to us.”
It was a happy ending of sorts, as there's still one bike missing but Miller warned anyone to not only have their equipment under lock and key but even said that posting pictures of bikes online could invite trouble.
“I’m one of numerous people who’ve had bikes stolen, it’s an industry within an industry.
“A guard intimated to Enda that in a previous sting operation an individual who was apprehended and his house subsequently searched was found in possession of 34 stolen racing bikes.
“I’m definitely one of the lucky ones, even if we only got one of the two bikes back.
“The other bike is probably broken for parts so if anyone comes across it, call the guards. They were absolutely incredible and I really have to thank them for what they did."
The missing bike belonging to Miller's wife is a Ridley with a Clontarf CC sticker on it and has a mix of Campagnolo and Shimano gears on it.
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