SUMMERSIDE - Rylan Gaudet shovelled snow and delivered newspapers for months to buy custom parts for his bicycle.
But all his hard work vanished Monday night.
Rylan, 12, left a wrestling meet at Parkside Elementary to find only the frame, front tire and handlebars of his prized possession locked to the rack at the rear of the school.
"I was really angry," the Grade 6 student said the day after the theft. "It looked like somebody had just ripped (parts) off and ran away."
Rylan and his family bought the Schwinn Havoc at a police auction in Summerside about a year ago.
With his earnings he was able to upgrade many of the parts, including a new $55 brake set, purchased just last weekend. The brakes, along with the rear tire and a new seat were among the stolen parts.
After searching online, Rylan determined it would cost more than $300 to replace all the items.
In the end, he said, it might be easier to buy a whole new bike.
"I rode it every day, but not usually to school," Rylan said. "I was always nervous to leave it there but I never thought this would happen."
Rylan's mother Crystal contacted Summerside Police Services where Const. Amy Walfield told them she had an idea who the perpetrators may be.
But while Rylan may not be confident about getting the parts back, his parents are holding out hope. They've even placed an ad on the website Kijiji, offering $100 for information that leads to the return of the items.
"My heart was aching for him because I knew how much it meant to him but, before I saw it, I never thought that would be all that was left of it," Crystal said.
Rylan spoke with Parkside's principal to ask about having the bike rack moved to a more visible location.
The family has also emailed other parents, asking them to remind their kids to be vigilant about leaving their bikes at school.
Rylan's father Mitch said buying the bike from a police auction might not have been the best omen.
"We think the bike is cursed," he said. "But (Rylan) had something he was proud of. It was unique and he did it with his own hands and his own money."
sbrun@journalpioneer.com
