Texas Police Charge 4 in High-End Bike Theft Ring

Four people have been charged in a high-end bicycle theft ring in which investigators say they rented bikes from Texas businesses and sold them online.

Austin police say one person was arrested after renting two bicycles valued at $3,100 each in March and not returning them to the business. Such thefts increased in recent months and led police to investigate them as activities of an organized group.

According to the Austin Police Department, the suspect stole at least $70,000 worth of bikes. Authorities say they have documented thefts in at least seven Texas cities, including San Antonio, Houston, Richardson and Flower Mound.

Police say most thefts were from rental businesses, but private bicycle owners were targeted as well.