A local 89-year-old woman is thrilled after police successfully recovered and repaired her new bicycle that had been stolen from the front of the 7-Eleven earlier this month.
Agnes Sawchuck had been biking around Bonnyville on Sept. 2 when she decided to stop off at the local convenience store.
“I was biking and I thought I would buy myself a treat,” said Sawchuck. “I went into the store and when I came out the bike was gone.”
“I was shocked. I have been riding a bicycle since I was 13-years-old and nobody ever stole it. I have parked everywhere. Then all of a sudden my bike is gone.”
After hearing Sawchuck's story local RCMP “were dedicated to assisting the woman” and quickly recovered the bicycle.
“She is 89 years old and still riding herself around on a bike. She had saved up to buy this special new bike for herself. It was kind of a sad story,” said Bonnyville RCMP Cst. Laura Carroll. “The (RCMP) members did work really hard to locate the bike.”
After following up with several people in town the officers were able to locate the bike on Sept. 3. The bike was in terrible condition, which two officers decided to fix.
“The bike was actually quite damaged; the basket was bent and it was all dirty,” said Carroll. “Two members fixed and cleaned it before returning it to her. Now she is riding around on it again.”
“I was surprised how fast I got it back,” said Sawchuck. “I was a very happy woman.”
Even though her bicycle was only missing for a day, Sawchuck said she learned her lesson and now locks it up where ever she goes.
“I fixed up my old bike, so now when I got to a place like the bank, where there is no place I can lock it, I take my old bike,” said Sawchuck. “When I go elsewhere, like the Wholesale, there is a place I can lock it up, so I take my new bike.”
