Bike-theft avengers: Sleuths on Victoria Facebook group reunite bikes with owners

It’s just a little bit of neon green on an otherwise black bike that catches Sarah Wakefield’s eye.

The self-employed gardener is driving around Victoria when she notices a man riding a matte black bike. A couple of tiny patches of bright green peek out from under the black on the bike’s frame.

“That’s a tell,” she says. The bike looks like it’s been spray painted. What that’s telling Wakefield is that it’s likely stolen.

Wakefield has an eye for noticing a bike that looks out of place. It could be a brand new road bike unattended on a patch of grass, or an electric bike in the hands of someone who doesn’t look like they could afford to buy it.

What’s unique about Wakefield is that when she sees something that doesn’t seem right, she acts on it.