Stolen bike returned to owner a month later because of serial number documentation – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

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Stolen bike returned to owner a month later because of serial number documentation Sep 30, 2014 12:00 AM A A A bike pilfered from a Medford home on Aug. 30 is back in the hands of its owner because of a documented serial number and the suspect blowing a stop sign while riding. Andre Leon Bilodeau, 32, was booked in the Jackson County Jail on a first-degree theft charge but is no longer listed in the jail. Medford police allege Bilodeau swiped the $500 bike from the front yard of a home in the 300 block of South Holly Street last month. At 12:43 p.m. Monday, police saw him blow a stop sign. After inputting the bike's serial number, officers discovered it to be the stolen bike. They arrested Bilodeau on the theft charge and a warrant for failing to appear in court. Lt. Mike Budreau of Medford police said documenting serial numbers on more-expensive property like bicycles really helps narrow the search field for police, as comparing brands, colors and models is much more difficult. "It's very time-intensive to do a manual search, but a serial number is like the license plate of a car," Budreau said. "It's just so easy."