Man Robbed on Pinellas Trail

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a robbery on the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin. Peter Kudelich, 53, told Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies that two teenage boys knocked him off his bicycle, then took off with the bike. It happened after 8 p.m. Saturday on a stretch of the trail near and Wilson Street.

Kudelich chased the boys for a couple blocks and also yelled for someone to call police. A person at a Douglas Avenue address called 911 about the incident at 8:26 p.m., according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded and brought a K9 to track the suspects. However, the dog was not able to find them.

Kudelich sustained minor injuries during the incident. He told deputies that his attackers were black. He said one boy was 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighed about 150 pounds and was wearing a dark shirt. The other boy was 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighed about 135 pounds and was wearing a white shirt.

The stolen bike is a blue "Giant" brand hybrid bicycle, which is a cross between a touring bike and a mountain bike. The bike also had a bag attached to the seat, which contained an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has some suggestions for staying safe while on the Pinellas Trail. 

The trail is not very well lit, which can cause safety concerns at night. "It is usually not recommended to use the trail after dark," said spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda.

Barreda also says another way to stay safe is to not go on the trail alone. 

The Pinellas Trail is a recreation trail that was built on an abandoned railroad corridor. It extends from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

[Updated 11 a.m., Monday, April 16, 2012]