Home > News

Victoria police warn people of bike thefts from locked compounds

Victoria police are warning people about a considerable uptick in bike thefts from locked compounds in condominium and apartment underground parking facilities.The local constabulary says that it has seen 90 bikes stolen throughout the past eight weeks, with most being nicked from locked compounds. In 2012, 433 bikes were reported stolen, and 325 were purloined in 2011.

Police say that more common bikes, such as older mountain bikes, are easier to sell than high-end road bikes, with pinched bicycles occasionally sold online.

Some condos and apartments insist on bikes being stored in locked compounds, but often there is nothing to lock the bikes to. Bike owners can lobby strata councils and apartment managers for better facilities, but they might also take measures such as recording bicycle serial numbers and taking pictures of their bikes for identification in case someone does abscond with their machines.

It has been estimated that 100,000 bikes are snatched in Canada each year, with only a percentage reported stolen.

Categories: News |