The West Shore RCMP is reminding residents to secure and register their bicycles after a high-end mountain bike was stolen in Langford.
A black 2016 Rocky Mountain bike with a Rockstar Energy drink decal on the upper frame was stolen from a vehicle parked in the 2300-block of Bellamy Rd. during the night on Wednesday.
“To date, around 26 bicycles have been reported stolen to West Shore RCMP since April 2016,” said detachment spokesperson Const. Alex Bérubé in a release. “The number of stolen bikes could very well be higher as those are only the ones that were actually reported to us.”
Bicycles, he noted, are stolen by opportunity seeking thieves. Not only are they a quick, silent and effective way for prolific offenders to move around an area to commit crimes, they also can be sold for quick money or to purchase drugs.
Often, when stolen bikes are recovered their owners cannot be located. The local detachment has a Bicycle Registration Program that serves as a means to track down any lost or stolen bicycles and return them to their rightful owners. This program also acts as a deterrent for thieves. Learn more about the program here.
Anyone with information regarding stolen bikes is asked to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com