By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer who was assigned to investigate the theft of a bicycle conducted an interview with the victim, at which time he was told that bicycle was locked at the bike rack in the courtyard of his apartment complex.

The victim said that there are no cameras where his bike was locked, but he did see the person ride off with his bike.

The officer conducted a neighborhood canvas, but was unable to locate any cameras.

The victim later informed officers that he found his bicycle on the Facebook Marketplace and on Offerup. He set up a meeting with the seller to buy his bike back.

The victim provided police with photos of his bicycle and its serial number. He also provided police with the insurance claim settlement report.

A day later the victim told police that the seller from Facebook Marketplace had contacted him about his bike and wanted to meet in Union Square to sell him the bicycle.

Police officers set up around the Square and waited until the seller showed up. At the appointed time a male and female party arrived with the stolen bike.

The officers immediately approached both parties. The female was identified by police, but the male refused to identify himself.

The male party stated he purchased the bike from an unknown person for $200 and was trying to make some money by selling it for $1000.

The officers checked the serial number on the bike and it matched the victim’s information.

The male party was placed in custody and brought back to the Somerville Police station where he was subsequently identified as Steven Hixon and booked on a charge of larceny over $1200.

The bicycle was returned to its owner.