SUBSCRIBE! Sign up for our daily newsletter and never miss a story!

Recovered bikes at MHPS (photo courtesy Colton Mckee)

MHPS launch Bike Index program, cyclists encouraged to register

Sep 9, 2020 | 4:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Between 150-200 bicycles are reported stolen every year in Medicine Hat.

Inspector Brent Secondiak says police know that number is substantially higher, probably double or triple.

And only 15-20 of those bikes are returned to the owner.

Now, the launch of the new Bike Index will help police and residents recover stolen bikes.

Bike Index is a non-profit, online bike registry to prove ownership, alert the community if a bike is stolen, search a found bicycle, and help police return recovered bikes to their owners.

Residents are encouraged to register their bikes for free online.

Bicycle owners will need to provide a photo and description of their bike.

Secondiak says the bike index has already been successful in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.

And they’re pleased to launch the program in the city.

“If the bike is stolen, then it creates a hot sheet and sends it out to everybody who is on bike index including the community and police so we can actively look for those. And if we find a bike with a sticker on it we can scan the QR code, send a message directly to the owner in a short period of time.”

Once a bike is registered, a Bike Index sticker can be picked up at the police station, Gravity Sports, or Cycle Path bike shops.

Additionally, police will be handing out Bike Index stickers on Saturday, September 12 from 10 AM-2 PM in the parking lot of MHPS Annex building across from the police station (884 2nd St SE).

Bike owners do not need to physically bring their bike to the station to register.

To register your bicycle, visit this link to MHPS website.