Bikes pile up in police custody

Every year, the Kalispell Police Department collects about 100 bikes that are found around town.

Only five or six are ever reunited with their owners, according to Mike Hall of the department.

For some reason, owners of the bikes usually don't call the police department to report them missing, Hall said.

"Why, I don't know. It's beyond me," he said.

He recently collected two expensive, new bikes with the bar codes still on them. They were found in an alley. No one has called to report two brand-new bikes missing.

The bikes go to a street-department warehouse, he said. In the past, they were sent to an auction every six months.

Now, police keep a list of charitable organizations and give away the bikes to children who can't afford them, he said.

There are about 80 bikes in the warehouse now, even though it was emptied in October, Hall said. In April, they all will be given away.

Hall encourages anyone who has lost a bike to call the police department and describe it.