GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Doug Streishhirsch owns a 1971 triumph Bonneville motorcycle, but he said it was stolen Friday morning around 1:20. Thieves were caught on camera taking it.
“It’s definitely a collector’s item. It’s a classic bike,” Streichhirsch said.
However, Streichhirsch said his bike is more than memorabilia.
“It’s a bike that me and a buddy who was in an accident and passed last month actually, and it was a project of ours, and he helped me. He taught me everything about the British motorcycles and all that,” he explained.
He said someone stole the classic British wheels which normally sit outside his Grand Rapids home on Lincoln Avenue Northwest.
“It’s heartbreaking, anger obviously, unbelievable,” Streichhirsch said.
He explained, “I’ve been rebuilding and working on it for about five years now. It’s a slow process putting it back together. I’ve done a lot of modifications on it.”
Fortunately, Doug lives right next door to a Dairy Queen which has surveillance cameras.
“It`s heart wrenching that somebody would come up into your yard and take it.’
I asked him if he thinks the thieves scoped out his motorcycle. He said, “Definitely.” The men were walking down Walker Avenue. Streichhirsch said judging from the bee line they made toward his yard after coming around the corner the suspects knew exactly what they wanted and went for it.
Since Friday, flyers have gone up about the missing wheels, as far as Greenville. Streichhirsch said his friends in the biker community have been helpful. Keeping an eye out and spreading the word.
He’s even turned to Craigslist to get his bike back. With every passing minute, he feels the suspects have a better chance of selling it or stripping it for parts.
He`s depending on this video to tip off the public and help solve this crime.
“Something in there has got to be recognized by somebody somewhere,” he said.
Streichhirsch said he’s offering a $500 reward to anyone who has the tip that leads to getting his bike back and an arrest. He said Grand Rapids police have been notified and a detective has been assigned to the case. He alerted FOX 17 to get the word and pictures out for help.
