An amateur detective identifying himself as Hercule Poirot last week wrapped up a two-month online sting by delivering a stolen Segway Human Transporter into the hands of Manhattan police.
Poirot had arranged to meet the man in possession of the stolen machine on the promise of helping him hot-wire the transporter, which had been taken without any keys.
But instead of hot-wiring the $5,000, self-balancing scooter, Poirot handed over the man and machine to a pair of burly Manhattan detectives.
Police arrested Yili Wang, a 24-year-old student from Queens, in connection with the scooter's theft. According to the NYPD, Wang was arrested Aug. 12 at 4:15 p.m. outside a Queens Starbucks where he'd gone to meet Poirot.
Police said Wang has been charged with two felony counts of grand larceny and two counts of criminal possession of stolen property.
"(The rightful owner) has extended his thanks," said Poirot. "We're going to get together and share a sarsaparilla."
According to Poirot, the scooter was stolen in June from a Manhattan parking garage. Poirot said Wang and a friend bought the Segway for $800 from the thief, who was pushing it along the sidewalk.
Poirot said Wang contacted him through Segway Chat, an enthusiast website he's a frequent contributor to, because of information Poirot posted there about starting a Segway without its digital key.
"He found me because he needed some technical information," Poirot said of Wang. "He was really stupid."
Frank Tropea, who runs Segway Chat, said Poirot posted the information as a "honey pot" to attract thieves. According to Tropea, Poirot was aware that one day Segway thieves would turn to the Internet, and posted the information to trap them.
"The guy who lost (the Segway) was really bummed," said Tropea. "It was really great to see it returned. It's great to see people combine brain power to get something back."
Tropea filmed the bust and posted an edited version on his site, including the "Bad Boys" theme from the Cops TV show.
Poirot declined to confirm Tropea's honey-pot claim. "I did it because I was able to," he said. Nonetheless, he kept many details of the Segway sting secret, citing the hope of recovering more Segways in the future.
In fact, Poirot said he is already on the trail of the only other Segway reported stolen. That Segway was taken earlier this year from a home in Kent, Washington, according to Segway.
"I believe I can catch that person," Poirot said. A Segway owner himself and a committed enthusiast, Poirot claimed to be an executive for a Fortune 500 company.
Carla Vallone, a Segway spokeswoman, praised the community crime-busting effort.
"Segway owners are always teaming up and working together," she said. "They recovered this person's $5,000 investment. It's really fun and exciting to see people cooperate this way."
