Full Notification

On December 12, 2017, Detectives from The Simi Valley Police Department became aware of video from a Ring security camera containing images of persons suspected of being involved with the theft of over $10,000 in bicycles from the next door neighbor’s residence. A concerned community member shared the video via Facebook in an attempt to help identify the suspects.

The victim in this case had four high end bicycles secured by cable locks to the back of a truck parked in the driveway. The victim and his family had been evacuated from Santa Barbara due to the Thomas Fire and were temporarily staying in Simi Valley until they could return home. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the victims involved were particularly upsetting to the surrounding community and the assigned Detective.

Based on the video and images shared on Facebook, the Detective was able to identify the suspect responsible for the theft of the bicycles. The suspect was contacted and offered the opportunity to return the stolen bicycles to the victim and then voluntarily turn himself in to law enforcement. On December 14, 2017, the suspect returned three of the four bicycles. The suspect was given time to produce the fourth bicycle but did not do so and stopped communicating with the Detective.

On December 26, 2017, the suspect, David Sheehan (10/25/75) was located at his mother’s residence in Moorpark. Sheehan attempted to avoid arrest by hiding from the Officer’s. Sheehan was ultimately located hiding in the garage and arrested without incident. Sheehan was booked at the East Valley Jail facility for Grand Theft. Sheehan is a known criminal in Simi Valley who was on release status after posting bail on another unrelated criminal case.

The successful recovery of the bicycles in this investigation is in large part attributed to the community effort to share surveillance video and inform their fellow citizens of real time information regarding criminal activity in the community. Everyone involved with this investigation share in the belief that the victim in this case who had evacuated his family from the area of the Thomas Fire to a safer location in Simi Valley should not have been subjected to a selfishly motivated criminal. Were it not for the efforts of Simi Valley citizens and a tenacious Detective, the victim may not have had three of the four stolen bicycles returned and the suspect may not have been caught.

In the event you or your child’s bicycle is stolen, increase the chances that it may be located and returned by registering it with the Police Department. There are approximately 90 to 100 bicycles reported stolen each year in our city, with an average of less than 10 returned to their owner.

Registration forms are available at major bicycle retail shops or on the Police Department’s webpage at http://www.simivalley.org/departments/police-department/register-a-bicycle. Complete the form and mail or deliver it to the Department to take advantage of this free service.