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A very special Victoria cargo bike was stolen, but there was video

The distinctive ride was lifted on June 20

The Capital Bike cargo bike Photo by: @CapitalBikeCa
June 23, 2023
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According to the Victoria Police Department, the custom cargo bike belonging to a prominent cycling advocacy group in Greater Victoria has been successfully recovered. The unique electric bike, prominently displaying the Capital Bike blue logos on all sides, was taken from its location outside the Capital Bike office on Hillside Avenue. The theft occurred on June 20 between 1 and 8 a.m., as reported by the non-profit organization through a social media announcement. Notably, the bike is easily recognizable due to its green frame and sizable wooden cargo box positioned at the front.

The group posted a video of the heist in the early morning.

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“These videos show the person who stole our beloved cargo bike. Note the thief’s bag of tools, the bike he’s riding, and how quickly he broke through our two $200+ locks,” the tweet read.

Upgraded cargo bike

According to a report from Global News, the folks at Capital Bike have spent more than $10,000 retrofitting the bike with an electric motor and other accessories.

“I feel that we did everything we could short of having a security guard to make sure the bike didn’t get stolen,” Capital Bike executive director Adam Krupper said. The bike couldn’t be stored inside the office due to the size of it.

Premeditated heist

Kruper also said that the theft was so brazen, but clearly planned.

“He had a large backpack, his backpack was full of tools,” Krupper said. “He was definitely a professional …It took him less than a minute.

Although the bike was recovered, it was quite damaged and will require several thousand to repair. “It’s an expensive bike and as a charity we really, truly can’t afford to replace it,” he said. “So, that’s really hard for us – because it was such a critical part of our outreach operations.”

Check out the video of the crime below.