Apopka police officers give teenager bike to replace his stolen one

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Ryan Renfro, 17, worked at the Tijuana Flats restaurant inside the Victoria Plaza on U.S. Highway 441 for weeks to save money and purchase a new bicycle. Not just any bicycle, though. He got a dark plum-colored Curb BMX bike from Kink – something he dreamed about for a very long time.

Needless to say that Renfro’s dreams were shattered only a couple of weeks later when, on March 17, suspects cut a lock and stole his bike from behind the restaurant. Video surveillance from a neighboring business shows three men walk off with the bike, which has not been seen since that night.

Apopka police officers decided to chip in and buy Renfro a replacement bike. On Friday, April 21, the police officers outside the Tijuana Flats at Victoria Plaza on Friday, April 21, to surprise Renfro with this gift.

“This kind of hit home, so I asked if anyone would be interested in replacing the bike that was stolen. The entire squad was immediately on board,” said Apopka police Lt. Chris Hanstein.

The idea seemed simple enough until they discovered that this was no simple bike. Representatives from Kink reported that the model was sold out nationwide. The company searched around and eventually found one of the bikes in a small shop in Richmond Hill, N.Y.

Hanstein said the sympathetic shop owner dropped the sale price of the bike to $280 and offered to pay half the cost to ship it to Central Florida. The delivery arrived at Hanstein’s home, and he quickly assembled the bike and arranged to surprise Renfro on Friday evening. It worked.

“I was really terrified when I saw all the cops and a van,” Renfro said with a really wide grin. “I am at a loss for words.”

Hanstein said Renfro properly locked his original bike, but the suspects used a bolt cutter to take it. He hopes the restaurant might allow the teen to keep his new bike inside.

Hanstein also offered a word of support for Renfro to enjoy the replacement bike, keep up the hard work at his job and do his best at school.

“As long as he stays in school and keeps his head right, we’re happy,” Hanstein said.

This article and photograph is from the city of Apopka.