Danville Cop Watched Hayward Duo Steal 'Bait Bike,' Police Say

DANVILLE, CA — Danville Police said an undercover detective saw a Hayward man and woman Tuesday morning stealing a "bait bike" locked at Hartz and Railroad Avenues.

Police said they were notified at 7:52 a.m. that someone was tampering with a bait bike — a bicycle set up by law enforcement to catch bike thieves — and arrived on scene to find Andrea Larson, 41, and Marion Straley, 49, talking near the bike. An undercover detective said they saw Larson cut the lock off, and put the lock and cutters into the white Nissan convertible that Straley was sitting in. She rode off on the bike, police say.

Uniformed officers took Larson and Straley into custody, police say. They were booked into the Martinez Detention Center.

Larson was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy to commit theft, probation violation and possession of burglary tools. Straley was arrested on suspicion of the same charges, plus driving on an expired license.

Danville Police Department asks the community to always lock their bikes with a quality lock.