Mr. Glenn Gershan, a 51 year old Reseda, California resident, couldn’t believe it when he returned to the Chatsworth Metro Orange Line Station, only to find that his bicycle had been stolen from the bike rack, on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. Mr. Gershan, who is disabled, was able to communicate with a passing bus operator and have him contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Transit Policing Division dispatch. Gershan’s Red and Black mountain bike was his primary mode of transportation, other than when he rides Metro, which he does frequently.
Transit Deputy Joshua May arrived a short time later and took the information he needed to write a report of the theft. Although May searched the area for witnesses and/or clues as to who may have taken the bicycle, none were immediately found. May noticed that Gershan appeared devastated by the theft. May gave Gershan a ride to the local bus division where a friend was able to take Gershan home. May told Gershan that he would stay in touch with him if anything turned up. Although May investigated with what little he had to go on, no workable information was able to be developed. The case, however, is still being investigated.
News of a bicycle theft is usually not a hot topic among the Sheriff’s Transit personnel working out of the Chatsworth Sub-Station, but the circumstances of this theft were. May informed the troops that he learned that Gershan is on a fixed income, and relies heavily on his bicycle for transportation. The Sheriff’s Transit Bureau North, San Fernando Valley Sector personnel (pictured) knew what they needed to do. A voluntary collection was taken and they quickly came up with a good enough sum of money to be able to get a new bike for Gershan and provide for at least some of the accessories that he needs to be able to ride.
Transit Bureau North personnel contacted the Sport Chalet in Porter Ranch, California, to see if they could help with the unusual circumstance. Mr. Jose Portillo, the stores’ general manager, not only discounted the price of the merchandise needed to make the bicycle easier for Gershan to ride, but he also offered to have his staff install and fit the items to the bike for a truly custom fit.
The Sheriff’s Transit North Bureau, Chatsworth Sub-Station personnel feel truly blessed to be able to help Mr. Gershan, and all involved feel as if they’ve made new friends. Mr. Gershan is thrilled with his new bicycle. Deputy May said, “The opportunity to help someone who needs it, reminds us all of why we got into doing this job in the first place.”
If you have information regarding this crime, please contact Sheriff’s Transit Policing Division Detectives at (323) 563-5000, 24/7, or you if you wish to remain anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters “TIPLA” plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or you can use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
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John L. Scott, Sheriff
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