Theft victim praises Hapeville officer for 'act of kindness'

Officer gives his own bike to theft victim

A Hapeville police officer gave a Walmart employee his own bike after the man's bike was stolen, forcing him to walk to work.

HAPEVILLE, Ga. - Hapeville Police Officer Dennis Rowe didn't have to "walk a mile" in Craig Magby's shoes to know he could use a little help.

Officer Rowe was working an off-duty job in Hapeville on Saturday when he spotted Magby returning home from work on foot.

The officer told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes, "He was kind of hot and sweaty. We got to talking and he was explaining to me that he normally rides his bike home from work, and it was recently stolen from him. Since the bike was stolen, he gets himself back and forth to work by walking."

The Walmart employee had recently purchased his bike and would ride it back and forth to work, locking it. Last week, someone stole the bike and lock he had used to secure it during his shift.

"I came out the store, had my groceries in hand was expecting to go home on my bike. I got to the area where I had parked and locked my bike and my bike was gone," Magby said.

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Mulling over Magby's plight, Officer Rowe's mind flashed on his own bike purchased just a few months ago for a camping trip, now sitting in his driveway getting little use.

"When he told me his bike was taken from him I didn't say anything to him, but I immediately knew I was going to bring that bike to him, and give it to him in hopes he could use it" the officer said.

On Monday, Officer Rowe made a special delivery. He gave Magby his bike, replacing the one that was stolen.

The officer explained, "When I saw something that I had that I wasn't using, and there was somebody that desperately could use it every day, I knew that I had to make that happen for him. It was just part of the way I was raised, the way I was brought up, to give back and to give where I can."

Magby is grateful for the act of kindness. He said the officer is a godsend.

"I had talked to God about it. He was like consider it done and he sent Officer Rowe my way. I'm grateful, thankful," Magby said.

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