Image via KOIN 6/YouTube
Imagine having someone you know and thought you could trust steal your late spouse’s beloved motorcycle for personal gain. That’s what a widow in Lafayette, Oregon was facing back in April as her deceased husband’s Harley-Davidson Shovelhead was stolen right out of her garage.
A missing motorcyclist is found in a remote ditch days later.
The woman took the theft hard, telling KOIN 6 she felt like she let her husband down. This is what thieves often don’t think about, for whatever reason. Their stealing beloved possessions like this has a real effect on victims.
Thankfully, a nonprofit group called Guardians Theft Recovery took on the case. For reasons unspecified in the report, local law enforcement apparently couldn’t do anything about the motorcycle theft. Things like that happen sometimes, so groups like this which help recover stolen vehicles can be a huge help.
Guardians Theft Recovery doesn’t charge for its services as volunteers in the group help people search for and get back their stolen rides. Exactly how the group helped with this case wasn’t made entirely clear, we’re guessing because the criminal case on the alleged thief is still open.
It does at least state that after months a warrant was obtained from a judge, allowing law enforcement to search a property, uncovering the Shovelhead. Guardians Theft Recovery was on hand to help take it back to the rightful owner.
Somehow, the group must have been instrumental in getting that warrant. Perhaps they helped gather evidence or something else – that’s a guess. What we do know is they did it for free and the widow seems incredibly grateful for their help.
There are other groups like this one scattered across the country. They help fill in gaps where law enforcement simply doesn’t have the resources and we think that’s great.
What makes this motorcycle recovery extra special is it’s the 3,000th the group has recovered so far. That’s a big milestone and one we hope they surpass by a lot in the coming years. Considering the organization has only been around for three years, that’s highly likely.
Image via KOIN 6/YouTube
