Salt Lake City police said Tuesday that thieves who ransacked the home of David Zabriskie stole thousands of dollars in bikes and Olympic memorabilia from the world-class cyclist.
Zabriskie’s loss is estimated at just under $160,000, although not all of the 21 stolen items on a list made public by police have been assessed a value.
“It’s huge,” police spokeswoman Robin Snyder said.
Zabriskie’s mother, Sheree Hammick, discovered the theft Monday, Snyder said.
Zabriskie has been away since Feb. 13 participating in the Tour of California. Zabriskie finished second behind Levi Leipheimer in the race.
Hammick said she regularly checks on her son’s home when he and his family are out of town.
On Monday, Hammick said she struggled to open the garage door, but once inside found both cars gone and “stuff just thrown everywhere.”
“You just get that sick feeling in your stomach. I wanted to throw up,” she told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “It’s really unsettling.”
Hammick said no room in the normally “immaculate” home was untouched. She said so much was taken that she believes it’s possible that those responsible were in the house for more than one day.
“It’s really, really tough,” she said. “A lot of the things they took are irreplaceable. The list is just endless.”
Among those items are a watch and ring from the Beijing Olympics, Zabriskie’s Olympic time trials bike, other race medals and racing team-issued bikes and equipment that can be purchased commercially, Hammick said.
Also taken were both of Zabriskie’s cars, clothing, electronic equipment and computers, along with a set of Marvel sideshow figures depicting characters from the movies “Hellboy,” “Alien,” “Ironman” and others. Snyder said the distinctive figures are 2 or 3 feet high and very heavy.
Neighbors told Hammick and police that they had seen the house lights on late one night, but no one called police.
Snyder says police will be watching pawn shops and e-Bay for anyone trying to sell the goods. Police are hopeful that the unique nature of some of the items will make them easier to find.
Zabriskie shared news of the theft with racing fans on his Web site Tuesday. In a message sent via Twitter, he said the thieves took everything.
“You name it, they got it,” he wrote. “If anyone out there sees anything you think might be mine, let me know.”
source: google.com (AP)
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