Vancouver – Officers on foot patrol in and around the Downtown Eastside last week were able to recover three stolen bikes in three separate incidents in just one day.
On June 25, constables found a man taking bikes apart on the sidewalk in the 100-block of East Hastings. When they checked the serial number of one of the bikes, they discovered it had been stolen just hours earlier. The owner was notified and officers did their best to put the bike back together for them.
The same day, police were called by a North Vancouver man who had been searching for his stolen $11,000 Ghost mountain bike for a week. He had just seen a man riding it near BC Place. Officers arrested the suspect before he could flee, and returned the unique bike to its owner. The investigation continues.
Later, patrolling members on foot in the 500-block of Main noticed a high-end $10,000 E-bike locked to a bike rack. Police queried the bike’s serial number and determined it was stolen from Yaletown the week prior. The bike’s rightful owner was notified and his bike was returned to him.
“We always encourage people to know their serial numbers and report their stolen bikes,” says Sergeant Adam Donaldson. “If we encounter a suspicious person with a bike, it can help us prove the bike is stolen and that it belongs to you.”
The Vancouver Police also recommend bike owners register their bikes with Project 529, which can increase the chance of getting a bike back if it’s stolen.
