Artsy bike racks stolen in Woonsocket

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) - There's good news after a strange crime in Woonsocket. One of the city's new artistic bike racks has been returned -- after thieves stole two of them.

Friday afternoon, Woonsocket Police said a city worker found one of the stolen bike racks thrown in nearby bushes.

The ten funky, bright-colored racks in creative shapes were installed across the city earlier this month, as a neighborhood improvement effort by the Our Neighborhoods Community Action Project. A company built them, and city teenagers added paint and designs when they were installed.

Nancy Paradee, the deputy executive director of Family Resources Community Action, said those on the project are frustrated by the thievery.

"As part of a transportation project we've been doing here in Woonsocket, we've been trying to increase awareness of biking as a way to get to work, as a way of having good recreation and fitness," she said.

"What we thought was a really good thing has already been sort of partially dismantled."

Each rack is valued at about $250. Whoever stole the racks would have had to cut them apart, or remove heavy bolts to pull them from the ground.

Paradee says neighbors just want the one remaining missing rack returned.

If you have any information about the stolen bike racks, contact Woonsocket Police at (401) 766-1212.