Harbor Police, who may not always be given high-profile credit for their crime work, came to the rescue in apprehending two suspected bicycle thieves recently. Bike owner Stephen Mann said he can’t give enough praise to officers Michael Bishop and Robert Brownyard, who arrested two people trying to sell the high-end bicycles. The bicycles were taken from Mann’s 38-foot sailboat — the same boat he used in 2008 to travel around the world in eight months and five days. Now, he’s back happily riding them again. “I hope this accolade is reported wherever it can bring a smile,” Mann wrote in a letter to the Port of San Diego’s Harbor Police Department. “I am writing to say, ‘Bravo!’” The bicycles — one valued at more than $6,000, the other valued at more than $2,000 — were on the vessel that was moored in Marina Cortez in Harbor Island. Mann reported the morning theft on Nov. 10 to the Harbor Police Department, which provides police services throughout San Diego Bay. Mann, a boat captain-turned-sleuth, scanned the Internet and found four Craigslist ads for his bicycles — complete with pictures. He reported his discovery to Bishop and Brownyard. Brownyard conducted his own detective work. Posing as a buyer, the officer met the seller in a Mission Valley parking lot. Not only did he get the bicycles back, but he discovered some additional items, including heroin and stolen license plates. As a result of the officer’s discovery, a 27-year-old man from El Cajon was arrested. He was charged with possession of stolen property, an unregistered firearm, a deadly weapon, stolen vehicle license plates and heroin. His girlfriend, whom Harbor Police officers identified as a 19-year-old from Lakeside, was charged with possession of methamphetamine. “Unbelievably, my bikes were recovered — and promptly,” Mann wrote. The bikes were stripped of all accessories, including a $500 lighting system and computer. Mann said he will spend more than $1,000 to replace the accessories. “I have made offers to reward you somehow, but have been told that you were just doing your job,” Mann wrote to the department. “So if you see a guy on a bike smiling and waving at you, it might be me.” The Harbor Police is the law enforcement arm of the Unified Port of San Diego and has about 130 sworn officers — all of whom are trained as firefighters and police officers. The jurisdiction of the Harbor Police includes San Diego Bay and the San Diego International Airport.








