Ghostbusters Car Restorer Gets Stolen Heirloom Bike Back in Hempstead

An old bike returned home thanks to social media. Ross Hutchinson’s bike got stolen. It disappeared from his garage near his home. The Grifter was Ross’s childhood birthday gift. His dad gave it to him 40 years ago.

Ross learned to ride on that very bike. He rode it all around Medway’s streets. In 1985, police marked it for security. Ross thought he would never see it again. The bike vanished with his daughter’s bike.

He called The Grifter his “childhood friend.” Ross then shared the news online. He posted in vintage bike groups. The community gave him amazing support online.

A dealer from Portsmouth bought it. He found it at a boot fair in Essex. The dealer then listed it on eBay. He removed the listing upon learning it was stolen. Luke’s listing included detailed photos of the bike. Ross saw the old police postcode stamp.

Luke said he bought the bike cheaply. Ross soon took The Grifter to Gillingham Pier. This was where his dad taught him to ride. Ross restored the bike for his son Felix.

He found it in France five years ago. The bike spent years at his parents’ home. The Grifter was a popular bike back then. Ross passed it to his brother Ryde.

Ryde sadly died at age 18 in a car crash. The family kept it at their cottage in Normandy. The Grifter has huge sentimental value to Ross. The Raleigh company made it from 1976-1983.