Runnin’ Utes’ head basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak doesn’t have the term “crime fighter” in his job description, but it was a role he took on Saturday morning just outside the Huntsman Center.
Sgt. Mike Richards of U Police said as Krystkowiak was heading into work, he noticed a white adult male riding a small BMX bicycle while holding onto a second bicycle. Aware that there have been numerous bike thefts on campus recently, Krystkowiak approached the man and began talking with him, Richards said.
Shortly thereafter, he called U Police, Richards said. While waiting for officers to arrive, Krystkowiak kept the man’s attention to ensure he would not get away.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers arrested 40-year-old Ralph Lewis, who appeared to officers to be homeless, Richards said. Lewis, who was also carrying pipe cutters and pliers, confessed to stealing the BMX bicycle.
“Generally as a rule, I wouldn’t have anybody just approach [thieves] because you never know what they’ve got,” said Sgt. Mike Richards of U Police. “What would be better is if you can keep eyes on them until we get there to deal with the situation … it’s always a big help when we get citizens who are tired of being ripped off and they try to help us stop crime, but you’ve gotta use a little temperance with a lot of this and you have to understand what your capabilities are.”
Richards was unaware whether or not Lewis had been booked into jail.
Krystkowiak tweeted about the incident after it happened.
“Walking into the office early this morn I saw a guy riding a bike while wheeling a second bike,” Krystkowiak said on Twitter. “Smelled a rat and chased him down and made him sit on sidewalk while campus police came. 5 stolen phones in bag too! Barney Fife!”