Stolen Motorcycle Returned After Police Play Phone Tag

A man got his stolen motorcycle back Wednesday after Seal Beach police left a message on the suspected thief’s answering machine: “We know who you are. Return the motorcycle.”

Police said they used the victim’s phone to dial *69--a service that dials the phone number of the last caller--to identify the man who allegedly stole the used bike while posing as a prospective buyer.

“It’s usually not that simple,” Seal Beach Police Sgt. Ron LaVelle said. “All we had to do is dial three digits.”

The victim, whose name was not released, was trying to sell the 1995 Suzuki GS XR1100 touring motorcycle and had advertised it in a local magazine. The suspected thief called the victim, pretending to be interested in buying the $7,000 motorcycle, and arranged to come by to see it Tuesday night, police said. But when he took the bike for a test ride, he never returned, police said.

The victim called police, who used the victim’s phone to leave their stern message. A few hours later, officers spotted the suspected thief riding the motorcycle on Seal Beach Boulevard near Pacific Coast Highway, apparently on his way back to the victim’s home early Wednesday morning.

Angel Sanchez, 24, of West Covina was taken into custody on suspicion of grand theft. Police, who suggest that people exercise caution when selling personal property, said Sanchez can expect little leniency for intending to return the vehicle.

“You can’t really fix it by bringing it back,” LaVelle said.