After Boy's Bike Taken, Arapahoe Deputies Get Him A New One

LITTLETON, CO—After a boy's bicycle was recently taken by someone by mistake, deputies with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office decided to do something about it. On Tuesday, they took 12-year-old Zachary Gallagher, who is autistic, shopping and bought him a new bike and helmet.

"Zach was thrilled and so was his dad. It was a great ending to an unfortunate incident," the sheriff's office said on its official Facebook page. "Thank you so much to everyone who offered to donate and help. We appreciate it so very much and are proud to serve you each and every day."

On Monday, Gallagher rode his new bike to Newton Middle School in Littleton and left it leaning against a fence next to a yellow sign that read "free furniture."

He apparently walked away for just a moment when a big truck came by and took the bike, which was leaning next to some free furniture the school was giving away.

"An innocent mistake by a 12-year-old boy with autism led to his bike being taken," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post." Zach has autism and didn't realize what he had done. His new yellow helmet was also taken."

On Tuesday, a team of 20 Arapahoe County sheriff deputies led by Lt. Daley pitched in to donate a new bike for Zach, but when they arrived at Pedal Bike Shop in Littleton to pay for it, the store's owner, Andy Christman, along with Cannondale owner Kevin Bennett, picked up the tab.

Based on photos provided by the sheriff's office, Zach is clearly happy with his new bike, giving it a big thumbs up.