UPDATE: Stolen Pedicab Seen Near Davis High; $200 Reward Available

UPDATE: The missing pedicab was spotted as recently as Wednesday afternoon in the area near Scripps Drive and Tamarack Lane, just west of Davis Senior High School. Some witnesses saw it parked, while others saw people riding it down the street. 

Davis Pedicab received the tip from somebody who saw this article. If you have any information, contact the number below and spread the word. 

STORY: It was about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and pedicab rider Paul Raffanelli had just dropped off his last customers at a home near 3rd and B Streets.

Those final customers were regulars to whom Raffanelli had given rides often. Before heading home on the pedicab, he “put the bike up against the house, behind a hedge,” and quickly went in to fill some water bottles.

When he got out a few minutes later, the pedicab was gone. He immedately went into search mode. 

“I rode around on a bike but couldn’t find it,” he said. “I called UCDPD, who sent out dispatch to TAPS. I called the City of Davis PD. I looked for an hour (that night) and then all of the following day.”

Raffanelli has no way of knowing whether the pedicab was immediately disposed of, stripped of its parts, quickly taken out of town or if it's still in Davis -- abandoned or being hidden. 

He says it would be pretty unwise for someone to ride it around Davis, especially now that the community has its eyes open.

“My gut is that some drunk knucklehead jumped on it,” said Raffanelli. “Everybody wants to ride a pedicab. They don’t get that I’m personally on the hook for it.”

In hopes of turning up the missing property and avoiding having to pay for the missing pedicab, Raffanelli has put up a $200 reward for anybody who supplies information that directly leads to finding the property. Your identity will be kept anonymous, he said. 

If you have information, contact 530-771-7405 or email davispedicab@gmail.com.

Davis Pedicab’s owner, Andrew Watters, said that the pedicabs are worth more than $2,000 and are insured at a cost of $1,200 per pedicab per year. He said that filing a claim would make their rates go up, though, so it doesn't make much sense to report it unless the pedicab was purchased brand new.

Raffanelli isn't sure which direction the thieves went after stealing the pedicab, but has a feeling they went west, into the housing area between B Street and the University. He reiterates that the pedicab could be anywhere, though. 

You've probaby seen the pedicabs around town. If not: The stolen one is yellow and had several advertisements zip tied to the frame at the time of the theft. If you see any discarded advertisements or the bike itself, comment below or contact the phone number or email address above.

Feel free to share this story with anybody whom you think might be able to help. 

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