Kitchener, Ont., bait bikes net 8 would-be thieves
Neighbouring communities have also seen a surge in bike theft, reports say
If you’re a rider in Kitchener, Ont., and you’re worried about bike theft, have faith. Local police are on the job, keeping your steeds well-protected, and their vigilance is netting results.
The key word, in this case, is “netting.”
That’s what happened after the Kitchener-Waterloo police left a bait bike in an area believed to be frequented by bike thieves, and those suspicions proved strategically accurate. After leaving the bait bike locked and unattended, a three-day sweep followed, and eight people in all—seven men and one woman—found themselves in a police dragnet as a result.
Attempted theft wasn’t just the only charge, either. Other charges included breaking court orders, possession of controlled substances and possession of stolen property, too. In terms of bike theft, though, the use of bait bikes is a necessary measure in Kitchener, police suggest. In all, 2016 has seen a huge surge in bike theft, with the CBC reporting that 1,372 bikes have been stolen since January.
To put it in perspective, 2015 saw 1,199 reported bike thefts, while 1,145 were stolen in 2014.
Other nearby Ontario communities are seeing a similarly disturbing surge, the CBC reports. Guelph, for example, has seen a steadily rising number of bike thefts: 226 in 2013, 381 in 2014, 459 in 2015, and this year, that number is thus far on track to pass the 400 mark.
