Thief Swipes Bicycle From Family of Triathlete Who Died

A $1,000 reward is being offered for the return of a stolen bicycle that once belonged to a man who died during the 2013 Redondo Beach Triathlon.

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Division are investigating the theft from the Giardino family's garage in the 3100 block of Barbara Street in San Pedro, Andrew Giardino said. The theft was discovered Monday morning.


Giardino's father, Michael Giardino, died June 9 after the swim portion of the Redondo Beach Triathlon; he had planned to ride the yellow Specialized Allez bike in the 6-mile cycling leg of the race, according to his son.

Andrew Giardino, along with 19 of his friends, is training to compete in next year's triathlon—hopefully aboard his father's bicycle.

"I really, really want to ride that (bicycle) next year," Giardino told Patch. "My intentions were to ride (my father's) bike while participating in the race in his honor."

Michael Giardino had only owned the bicycle for about a year, and "he loved riding around the (Palos Verdes) Peninsula," Andrew Giardino told the Daily Breeze.

The $1,000 reward is being offered by Marymount California University President Michael Brophy on behalf of the employees and students of the university, which Giardino attends.

The bicycle is a yellow Specialized Allez with one yellow and one red water bottle holder, according to fliers that Giardino has posted around the area.

Anyone with information on the theft of the bicycle should contact LAPD Detective Thomas Baran at 310-726-7845.

Previously:

• Services Set for Man Who Died in Triathlon
  
• Son: Triathlete Died Doing What He Loved
• Swimmer Dies During Triathlon