Dear PoPville – Stolen bike found but locked!

“Dear PoPville,

My bike was stolen about a year ago from right outside my office building on K Street (An image of it is attached). At the time, I filed a police report but pretty much expected nothing to come of it. I hadn’t gotten it registered with DC Police and it was relatively cheap (though one of a kind because I built it part by part). Last night, I was walking up 14th Street towards Meridian (where I live) and saw the bike locked to the fence right next to Pan Lourdes bakery. It was locked with another bike with a U lock on the fence that surrounds the rowhouse between the bakery and CC’s liquor store. When I went back later, the bike wasn’t there but my guess is that someone took it inside because I saw someone taking another locked bike inside as I got there.

What are my options here if I go back and see it locked today? Can/should I lock the bike with my own U lock? Should I ask the police to get involved since this is stolen property? Should I leave a note and ask whoever has the bike to give me a call?

Really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.”