A little detective work by a Clinton resident led to the return of custom-make bicycles that were stolen earlier this month.

A couple reported to the Island County Sheriff’s Office that they discovered missing from their garage two Noroco Aurun bicycles — valued at more than $8,000 — a custom surf board and a new pair of shoes.

One of the residents told a deputy that he suspected Brandon S. Vitovitz might be involved in the crime because he had shown interest in the bikes and surf board in the past, according to the police report.

The man went on a website dedicated to selling bikes and found the stolen bicycles. He had a friend call the person who put up the ad but was told it was sold already.

The resident then used a photo of one of the stolen bikes from the website to match it to a house Vitovitz was staying at. The photo showed a fence and a yellow extension cord that matched those at the house, the police report states.

Vitovitz later told an investigator that he traded goods for the bicycles, even though he knew they were stolen, the report states. He denied being involved in the burglary.

The two bikes were subsequently located and returned to the owners.

Prosecutors charged Vitovitz in Island County Superior Court April 16 with trafficking in stolen property in the first degree. If convicted of the crime, he could face more than a year in prison under the standard sentencing range.