He stole a bike from an elderly man picking up mail. But he didn’t get far

A 74-year-old man who was picking up his mail Thursday morning in downtown Fresno had a surprise waiting for him as he left the post office: his bike had been stolen.

He was inside the post office at Tulare and M streets only about 10 seconds, he told Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies. When he came out to get his bike, he saw a man riding away on it. He chased the thief about a quarter mile, to Kern and N streets, and caught up to him. He grabbed his bike, but the thief threatened him and pushed him, the sheriff’s office said.

Two Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies heard shouts for help and ran over in time to see the struggle. The thief ran from the deputies but was caught a short distance away and arrested.

The thief, identified as 22-year-old Gilbert Palmerin of Fresno, had a glass pipe with methamphetamine in it. He was booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of robbery, possession of stolen property, drug possession and resisting arrest. He remained in jail Thursday afternoon on $44,000 bail.

The bike was returned to the victim, who was not injured.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 2:39 PM with the headline "He stole a bike from an elderly man picking up mail. But he didn’t get far."