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Twitterers Help Lance Get His Bike Back

Twitter, Facebook kept bike in the news

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 19, 2009 11:10 AM CST

(Newser) – Turns out celebs can use Twitter for more than just ranting against loud neighbors: Lance Armstrong used social networking sites to get his bike back, the Telegraph reports. He issued an “APB” to his 140,000 Twitter followers, and on Facebook, a group popped up named “1 Million Citizens Looking for Lance Armstrong’s Stolen Bike.” Four days after the theft, the bike was returned.

“All the technology involved really kept the story alive and moving,” said a police sergeant. “It was clear that most of the people in the community were looking for this bike. It makes it hard to transport the thing; you can't ride it or sell it because it is that hot of an item.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, of the US, smiles as he rests in shade after the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under cycling race in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Aman Sharma)

Lance Armstrong crosses the finish line at the Amgen Tour of California cycling race prologue in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, of the US, prepares before the sixth stage of the Tour Down Under cycling race in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Aman Sharma)

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Whoa! They just came to my room and said our truck was broken into and someone stole my time trial bike! Wtf?!? APB out to the twitterati. - Lance Armstrong, via Twitter

They recovered the bike! Don't have details yet but it's apparently on its way here. Thanks to the Sacramento PD for the help! - Lance Armstrong, via Twitter

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Twitterers Help Lance Get His Bike Back