Unley man arrested after police find 18 allegedly stolen bikes in his house after he tried to sell one online

An Unley man has been found with 18 allegedly stolen bikes stashed at his home, after one victim noticed their bike being advertised online.

An Unley man has been arrested with 18 allegedly stolen bicycles in his possession.

Police found the bikes after a Myrtle Bank homeowner saw their recently-stolen bike advertised on the internet.

The advertised bike was stolen, along with two others, from their home on January 31.

It also became apparent to police that the man was advertising several other bikes on the same website.

Police say they searched the man’s Unley home on Wednesday and found the haul of bikes, including the advertised stolen bike.

The 39-year-old man was charged with theft and unlawful possession and will be appearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on May 24.

The stolen bikes have been seized, and police will attempt to track down their owners.

Towards the start of summer last year, thieves took advantage of the warm weather – and more people enjoying the outdoors – to steal bicycles.

Unsecured bikes, or those with cheaper locks, were stolen from schools, homes, offices and bike racks.

During October last year in the CBD, 37 bikes were stolen.

And in 2019, an average of 11 bikes a week were stolen across the eastern district of Adelaide.

One victim is Tanya Williss’s son, Aiden, who in November last year, had his brand-new $2800 Merida One Forty 600 mountain bike stolen in daylight from St Therese School, Colonel Light Gardens.

Aiden Williss’s bike was stolen just days after he got it. Picture: Tanya Williss

The bike, a 12th birthday gift, was stolen three days after he received it.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Ms Williss, of Daw Park, told The Advertiser at the time.

“You can’t replace it or get another one like it.

“You can’t get the same bike, same specs, same colour – it’s all done with now. He waited so long for this really fancy and expensive bike to ride with his mates.”

Aiden’s bike has still not been located.