By Town Crier Staff

Los Altos police caught up with a thief who allegedly rode away on a $1,400 bicycle on display at the Bicycle Outfitters in Los Altos when he showed up at a second bike shop where employees recognized him.

The man allegedly took the bike on a test ride May 13 but failed to return to pick up keys that he had left as collateral at the downtown shop, police said.

An employee at the Palo Alto Bike Shop tipped off police to the man’s whereabouts the following day after he apparently tried the same scam at the shop.

The employee recognized the man from a description that the Outfitters issued to local bike shops after the theft.

Palo Alto police arrested the man at the shop for possession of stolen goods.