PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One Lafayette woman can rest easy after her late husband's Harley Davidson was found with just a few scrapes thanks to a group called Guardians Theft Recovery.
In what is the group's 3,000th vehicle being returned to its owner, the woman's motorcycle had been missing for three months but carried more sentimental value than anything else.
"It made me thoroughly beat that I let my husband down," Cyndi Eskins told KOIN 6 News.
Back in April, the Harley Davidson Shovelhead engine motorcycle — beloved by her late husband — was taken right from her garage.
"I had Harleys for 42 years in my garage. So to not hear that again, that's what really got me about the bike being missing, is that I'd never hear it again."
Eskins said the motorcycle was stolen by someone she knew. She said the man allegedly "picked the lock on our garage and wheeled it right into his trailer."
"Cyndi is a very special case," said Nick Haas, the founder of Guardians Theft Recovery, the group Eskins turned to when she said law enforcement's hands were tied. "As a rider, as a motorcycle enthusiast, I understand what the motorcycle means. When you’re broken, your motorcycle fixes you. When it's broken, you fix it."
Haas and his colleagues help people find their stolen vehicles, a service they provide free of charge.
"We really just do it to help others," he said.
After months of waiting, a warrant for the suspect's arrest was obtained by local authorities, Haas said.
"We got the bike back," he said.
"It was the best moment of my life, right there," Eskins added.
With the help of the sheriff's offices for Yamhill County and Clackamas County, the motorcycle was finally located in McMinnville.
"I’ve been really excited that we’ve been able to do so much and help so many people," Haas said. "Especially like Cyndi, restore just a little bit of faith in humanity for them!"
The milestone of the group's 3,000th vehicle returned to its owner happened in just three years, Haas said.
"Considering last year we were only at 1,000 and now we’ve done 2,000 in a year, I think that speaks volumes in and of itself," he said.
'I slept so good knowing that Harley was home," Eskins said.
All the bike needs now after three months of sitting in the alleged thief's garage is some rejuvenation and extra love.
"Everything he said he was going to do, he did. And because of that, we're standing here today with her," Eskins said.
Several of Eskins' possessions are still missing. However, she said she's thankful that this priceless possession is back home, safe and sound.
