Mickey McDowell, manager of the Bike Smith, looks over one of Glen Lucky's bikes Monday afternoon at the shop. Cathleen Allison Nevada Appeal
Someone stole and vandalized both of Glenn Lucky's tricycles - his older model that was becoming increasingly too heavy for the 53-year-old with cerebral palsy to handle and his newer model purchased in August with money donated by his fans.
"That was his dream bike. The town came together to raise that money for him. It's a very big deal to him and his heart is just broken," said Glenn's niece Jennifer Lucky.
The theft was discovered Saturday morning as Glenn was leaving for breakfast with his parents, she said. The morning was spent searching the Indian Hills neighborhood in Minden.
Eventually Glenn's father, John, found the "everyday" bike a block away. It was missing a tire, with its forks bent and brakes destroyed, Jennifer Lucky said. When her grandfather called the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, they said they'd found Glenn's prize bike on a hill off Highway 395, apparently tossed over the fence and left to tumble down. It was also missing a tire and covered in mud.
James Preston, a bike mechanic at the Bike Smith, said the older bike had minimal damage and was quickly repaired. Glenn was back on the road by Monday afternoon. The new bike needed some minor repairs and to be cleaned up.
"I really do believe whoever did this should be held responsible," Jennifer Lucky said. "He's done so much for the community. This is his vehicle, his only means of transportation."
According to Sgt. Tom Mezzetta of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, the thefts occurred from the 900 block of Lehigh Circle sometime between 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. One of Glenn's bikes was found at the intersection of Princeton Avenue and Loyola Street. The second bike, valued at $6,000, was found by an officer south of Mica Drive on a hillside overlooking Highway 395.
"We are offering up to $250 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible," said Mezzetta, noting officers are actively looking for the suspect. "I've come to the conclusion that this is the work of kids. Sometimes they don't think before they act."
Glenn has ridden about 40 miles a day through heat, cold, rain and snow since he was 15 years old. What initially started as therapy to loosen his muscles has turned into his passion. He can be seen riding through town with a train of signs for local businesses hooked onto the back of his bike.
n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
You can help
Anyone with
information about the vandalism to Glenn Lucky's
tricycles should call the Douglas County Secret Witness line at 782-7463.
E-mail information to: secretwitness@co,douglas.nv.us