15 Tour de Shore Bikes Stolen From Center City Pub

Police are on the hunt for thieves who stole specialized bikes used during the annual Tour de Shore event.

Riders who participated in the Tour De Shore charity ride on Sunday stored their bicycles at the Irish Pub located on 2011 Walnut Street. Most of those bicycles belonged to police officers and all of them were used by the riders who journeyed 65 miles from Philadelphia to the shore. On Sunday, at 4:35 a.m., investigators say a thief or thieves stole 15 bicycles worth a total value of $20,000. According to police, only the most expensive bikes were stolen while the others were untouched.

Investigators say the thief or thieves fled the scene in an older model, light-colored Ford pickup truck, possibly a Ranger. The vehicle was spotted traveling west on the 2000 block of Moravian Street at 4:35 a.m.

Credit: Philadelphia Police

Mark O’Connor, the co-owner of the Irish Pub, spotted a ladder inside the establishment when he first discovered the theft. He believes the suspect or suspects brought the ladder and mistakenly left it behind. Ultimately, O’Connor says, he doesn’t want the crime to overshadow the annual fundraiser, which honors officers who were killed in the line of duty and the children they left behind.

“It’s a bummer,” O’Connor said. “But ultimately we are not gonna let it ruin what was a great day. We had a great day and raised over $600,000.”