Melbourne resident Landon Cangiano will turn 16 on June 9th, but his birthday gift came a few days early.
Many in Brevard were on alert this week looking for Landon’s stolen orange-and-black Trek bicycle that belonged to his late father. The bike was stolen as Landon worked a summer job lifeguarding at Sherwood Pool in Melbourne. It had deep sentimental value for the teen.
After posts on social media and a FLORIDA TODAY story triggered a widespread help from the community, the bicycle was located and Landon was reunited with it on the evening of June 5.
“He is so happy. He can’t believe it,” Landon’s mom Nicole Cangiano told FLORIDA TODAY. “We truly can’t thank everyone enough — for looking, for sharing, for caring. We felt the love from our whole community.”
How was the stolen bicycle found?
The bicycle was taken June 4th while Landon was working his job as a lifeguard at Sherwood Pool.
His family and friend immediately started searching. Social media was flooded with pleas to be on the lookout for the bicycle.
The family received tips about sightings, as well as some false claims of a found bike from scammers attempting to collect a $500 reward.
Following a lead, Landon and his swim coach Tiffany DeAngelis drove to a location in Melbourne. They were in disbelief when they witnessed a man riding the bike.
They immediately contacted Melbourne police and stayed on the phone with authorities while following the man to a Circle K gas station on Post Road and Wickham Road.
“We didn’t approach him, but we watched him until police arrived,” Cangiano said. “About seven cop cars met us there. They were amazing.”
She said police told her they were not able to press charges at that time because the man in possession of the bicycle said it was given to him. There was no proof he was the one who took the bicycle from the pool.
Where is the stolen bicycle now?
Landon will be keeping the treasured bicycle close by from now on.
He remembers his late father, Vinny Cangiano, riding the bicycle often before he passed away in 2021 from COVID-19. It was just last year when Landon was big enough to ride his dad’s bike.
Landon treasured the bicycle, often working on it while fondly remembering his dad. Now that Landon’s turning 16, he’ll get his driver’s license and might not be riding the bicycle as much. But that’s OK. He’s just glad to have the treasured item back in his possession.
“We definitely feel like Vinny had a hand in getting the bike back to us,” Cangiano said. “Landon said this is the best birthday gift he could have gotten.”
Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Bike found! Teen reunited with late dad’s bicycle after it was stolen from Melbourne pool
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
