Twice

In grade school, a had a Stingray with a chopper fork get stolen. Cops found it a year later in a field outside of town. The sun had faded the paint on one side and the tires rotted. Lots of rust.

In college, I gave my girlfriend a vintage beater Schwinn Hornet, which she refused to lock up. It was stolen off our porch one night.

About a year later, I was coming back into town from a ride in the country and I saw the Schwinn leaning on the side of a house. I did a quick u-turn and knocked on the door.

A college girl answered and I said “that bike next to your house was stolen off my porch”. She replied “that’s my boyfriends’ bike - do you want to talk to him?”. I replied “no - I’m just going to take my bike back”. Nobody tried to stop me, but I could feel many eyes watching me as I left.