Bike Theft
Bike theft in Calgary has been on the rise. According to Sergeant Brennan Vanderwater of the CPS, during the first nine months of 2020, there was at least a 10 percent increase in bike thefts. “They’re being resold, they’re being parted out, they’re traded, they’re like a currency on the street.”
To address this growing trend of crime and better support victims, CPS partnered in 2019 with the non-profit organization Bike Index to keep a register of bicycles in Calgary.
Through the use of the Bike Index Registry, CPS has had success in recovering bikes. For example, in a single day in September 2020, CPS recovered 14 bikes. In May 2020, officers returned over $12,000 worth of bikes to Calgarians with the help of Bike Index.
What You Can Do
Register your Bike with bikeindex.org. (As well, keep a photo of your bike to assist in recovery).
Ensure the bike is locked up properly by securing the wheels and the bike frame to a solid object.
Use multiple locks.
Take easily removable items with you, such as bells, seats, and lights.
Avoid securing your bike in a predictable fashion, such as putting it in the same bicycle rack in the same place every day.
Report your bike if it is lost or stolen by going to calgarypolice.ca and filling in an online report
