Vancouver’s ‘bait bike’ program nets fresh offenders
As Canadian Cycling Magazine reported last month, it didn't take long for the city's "bait bike" program -- in which police set out rides to tempt would-be thieves -- to start yielding results.
Call it two for two for Vancouver’s bait-bike program.
As Canadian Cycling Magazine reported last month, it didn’t take long for the city’s clever bike theft trap — in which police set out rides to tempt would-be thieves — to start yielding results. In early October, a 37-year-old man was caught trying to steal a bike near Pender Street and Dunsmuir in the downtown core. Within an hour, the attempt was foiled, police reported.
Earlier this week, the Vancouver law enforcement initiative nabbed its second set of culprits, when a 48-year-old Vancouver resident and a 21-year-old Richmond man were caught in the bait-bike dragnet.
According to reports published by Metro News, the two succeeded in breaking the lock off the bait bike. They started walking it away, but not even 30 minutes later, officers locked the bike remotely, bringing the thieves’ brazen joint operation to a halt. At around 10 pm, reports say, the two were arrested by police at the corner of Hamilton and Dunsmuir. In response, authorities are recommending charges of theft and mischief against the two Lower Mainland men.
Meanwhile, Vancouver police continue to encourage members of the public to take measures against theft themselves, principally through the use of a program, previously reported by Canadian Cycling Magazine, called Project 529.
As of press time, nearly 3,000 bikes have been stolen in Vancouver during 2015.
