Aunt Helps Police Identify Rochester Bike Thief

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News ) - It took awhile but a Rochester bicycle thief who was in the news earlier this year has been apprehended - thanks in part to a family member.

A Rochester man reported his bike had been stolen from his enclosed porch in July and the theft was recorded on surveillance video. A few weeks later, the man and his wife were downtown and spotted the suspected thief with the bike.

The man’s wife confronted the thief and grabbed the bike while her husband recorded the incident on his camera. The thief was able to ride off with the bike. The video of the incident was put on social media and over the next few weeks, police began receiving tips about the identity of the thief. One of the tips was from a woman who said she was the man’s aunt.

Police located the man earlier this week and he was arrested. Arraigned Tuesday on felony burglary and other charges was 29-year-old Tyler Mayer-Engelking. His non-conditional bail was set at $40,000.