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Stranger finds stolen bike, returns to owner

Posted at 11:27 PM, Sep 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-23 02:30:52-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A San Diego woman says she beat the odds, thanks to help of a stranger.

Think about how many bikes get stolen. How many of them get found and returned back to their owner? 

When Nina Sasso’s bike was stolen from her garage, she never thought she’d see it again.

She tells 10News, her bike was very special. It was almost like a first car. 

“I had a little money saved up from college graduation presents, and I had wanted a bike for a really long time,” she said. 

The bike would be used throughout her entire 20s, road cycling and taking part in charity rides.

“It was definitely like a big part of my identity for a couple of years and I didn't want that taken from me,” she said. “I burst into tears, I went on this frenzy of pulling up pictures and posting them on Facebook,” she said.

Carlos Gaerlan, a complete stranger, saw the post in a community Facebook group. Hours later, he saw a strange man riding the bike. After confronting the man and exchanging a few words, he got the bike back for Sasso.

“I was just doing the right thing,” Garlaen said, “I thought about it afterward, he could have pulled out a knife or something like that.”

Sasso says, she's grateful to have experience kindness in her community. 

“Follow Carlos' example," she said. "He's a great neighbor, and (I'm) super thankful to live in a place where we have him around."