Bike thefts see increase this time of year: MHPS

Jayden Skinner helped get the word out. She also was the victim of a bike theft a few years ago.

“It makes you angry. It genuinely makes you angry when people steal your bike,” she said.

Davis Grona wasn’t the only one to experience a bike theft recently. Thirteen-year-old Riley Bannick had his bike stolen from his garage. The bike was similar to one his father had growing up, and together the two would bond working on it

(submitted photo/ Riley Bannick)

“It shook me a lot when I realized it was gone because, it is something I probably couldn’t get back, and if I do it would be a great moment but if not it will be devastating I guess,” he said.

The MHPS said bike thefts are common this time of year. But with more people turning to bikes during the pandemic, that appears to have translated into more theft.

“We are trying to combat that and prevent it several ways. But we launched a program called bike index last year where we are hoping people can register their bikes. That way if they are taken we can return them to the owners,” Insp. Brent Secondiak said.

Police were able to recover Davis Grona’s bike, but when police turned it in, its’ condition was poor and not rideable.

“I had a bunch of different parts on there. The guy replaced most of what I had with lower-end parts,” said Grona, who noted his recovered bike is currently getting fixed.

Insp. Secondiak said high-end bike parts can be a draw for thieves looking to make some extra cash.

“We’ve had people where they are trying to make money selling bike parts. So they’ll steal a bike and dismantle it, and sell it on various social media platforms. Historically we have had organized chop shops where people were stealing dozens of bikes stripping them and selling them but we don’t have any reports of that right now,” Insp. Secondiak said.

For those looking to purchase a bike, Secondiak recommends purchasing a bike from a reputable bike shop. But if a used bike is more in your budget, Insp. Secondiak advises checking the serial numbers to confirm that all the parts are original to the bike and that the bike is not reported stolen.

With new bikes often carrying a price tag in the hundreds to thousands of dollars, the MHPS said purchasing a quality bike lock that can’t be cut, is one of the best ways to prevent theft.

Bike owners can also register their bikes through the Bike Index program on their website. Serial number stickers can be picked up at the Medicine Hat Police Service, Gravity Sports, and Cyclepath.

Bikes that are recovered are stored at the MHPS. Despite having dozens of bikes in their possession, officers say only 10 to 12 bikes are actually returned to their rightful owners every year. The police service encourages anyone missing a bike to contact them to see if it has been turned in.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Bike thefts see increase this time of year: MHPS

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