Numerous Bicycles Stolen In Winter Park In One Night

WINTER PARK, Colo. (CBS4) - At 17 years old, Izzy Haley found her life's passion ... hitting the trails on a mountain bike. Yet, the bike she long saved for to buy with her own money - is now missing.

"It's more than just a bike. It's something I worked hard for," Haley told CBS4's Kelly Werthmann. "It meant a lot. I put time and effort into it."

Haley came from Alabama to compete in the National Championships in Winter Park.

"It's just like a gateway to everything outside," she said.

Her bike was one of a half dozen taken from around Winter Park overnight. Haley was told security cameras inside weren't working, so she's not sure who took it.

"It's very frustrating."

Up the road, in a different part of town, another bicyclist found herself in the same situation. And she has a pretty good idea who snagged her bike.

"And then he waved to the camera," Kristen, who asked CBS4 not share her last name, said of the man seen riding away on her bike. "I just bought it. I had ridden it once."

Video shows the thief taking off with her bright orange, $6,000 mountain bike. While Kristen wasn't part of the competition in town, she says that bike was her way of enjoying Colorado's outdoors.

"The hardest part is people don't realize, these thieves don't realize, how hard we work to get something like that," she said.

Now, with Haley's first competition around the corner, she is keeping the faith that the loss of her bike won't mean a loss on the course.

"A lot of people have been so nice, offering bikes," Haley said. "People care so much. It means a lot there's a community behind it."

Anyone with information that may help authorities find the bike thief or thieves should contact Winter Park Police. Also, Kristen is offering a reward for the return of her bike. She can be reached by email: klb114@hotmail.com.