Swansea family pleads for return of late father's stolen motorcycle

SWANSEA, Mass. — A local family is pleading for the return of a stolen motorcycle that belonged to their father who died last year.

The 1988 Harley Davidson was so precious to Mike Mahan, who died at 62 years old of liver failure, that his daughters had a vial of his ashes woven into a saddlebag of the bike.

The family brought the motorcycle - a navy-bluish-purple FLHS model - to Adrenaline Cycle in Swansea for a complete engine overhaul and other work. But on Friday, they learned Swansea police were investigating after the beloved motorcycle was stolen from a trailer where it had been stored behind the building.

"We lost him just over a year ago, in 2015, and honestly it's like losing him all over again," said Mike Mahan's daughter, Megan Mahan, in tears. "He left it for us to enjoy him, and honestly, it's the closest we feel to him is on the back of that bike."

Justin Torres, the owner of Adrenaline Cycle, said the thief or thieves broke into a secure trailer behind his building by cutting the locks and damaging equipment. They also stole bike stands, a monitor for a computer and other equipment, he said.

"Making that call to the customer was very, very painful," Torres said. "This was the first time in 15 years that we've been in business that I've ever had to make this call."

The theft of the Mahans' motorcycle isn't the first theft investigation at Adrenaline Cycle. In 2012, Torres was charged with receiving stolen property for having several stolen items in his shop with the serial numbers removed. His shop was temporarily shut down. Torres told FOX25 that was the work of a former employee.

"This has nothing to do with it," Torres said. "I've never stolen anything and neither have any of my employees."

Torres is offering a $2,000 reward for the return of the bike, no questions asked. The motorcycle, he said, isn't worth much money.

"I would like nothing more for her than to get her bike back," Torres said.

Mahan, too, is begging whoever stole the bike to return it.

"It can't be replaced. It's priceless," Mahan said. "It's not about the money. It's about what the bike is, and that's a piece of my dad."

Torres said a neighboring business captured surveillance video of the theft, but the images are poor and only shadows can be made out.

Cox Media Group