North Vancouver RCMP arrest suspected bike thief, execute search warrant at storage unit
North Vancouver
2022-10-21 10:53 PDT
File # 2022-1554
On October 18, North Vancouver RCMP arrested a 50-year-old male after receiving information from a victim of bicycle theft that their stolen bike had been listed on Facebook Marketplace. The bike was reported stolen from a North Vancouver business during a break and enter that occurred on January 20, 2022. The owner of the bike continued to check popular resale websites for their stolen property, and when they saw the bike, they notified RCMP.
"Investigators moved quickly to apprehend a suspect in the investigation," said Sgt. Peter DeVries of North Vancouver RCMP. The suspect is a 51-year-old man of no fixed address, and he is known to police. "As a result of the investigation, officers were also able to obtain and execute a search warrant at a storage facility in Vancouver," said DeVries. More than 15 high-end bicycles, frames and assorted parts were seized during the execution of the search warrant. Efforts are now underway to identify the owners of the property.
"We encourage anyone who has been victim of bicycle theft to go online and search for your bike," said DeVries. "If you see it, please contact your local police."
The arrest and subsequent search warrant also highlights the value of recording serial numbers, taking photos, and marking bicycles with identifiers, said DeVries.
Record Details About Your Bike
- Record your bike’s serial number so it can be added to police computer records if it is stolen, which will enable police to return it to you if it is recovered (you can often find your bike’s serial number on a sticker or embossed on your bike, as well as on your record of sale or at the store where you purchased it)
- Register your bike with a bike theft recovery service, like 529 Garage
- If you buy a bike privately (ie., Craigslist, Facebook), before making the purchase, look up the serial number in the Canadian Police Information Centre stolen bike database
- Photograph your bike, as a reference, to help us find it and/or return it to you
Know where to find your bicycle's serial number
- Underside of crank (most common location)
- Headset
- Rear stays
- Seat down tube next to crank
- Top of crank
Target Harden In Public
- Never leave your bike unlocked in public
- Always lock your bike with two different, high quality locks; (ie., a U-lock and a cable lock)
- Remove the seat or a wheel as an extra deterrent (never lock your bike by the front wheel only)
- If storing your bike at your residence, store it in a safe location using a lock or on your property inside a locked area
Be Vigilant At Home
- If you are leaving your bike in or attached to your vehicle, lock it to your vehicle (high end mountain bikes are often stolen from the back of a pick-up truck or vehicle in large parking areas such as malls while the owner is running a short errand)
- Choose appropriate places to park; well lit areas with good visibility are best
- Do not leave your bike on or in your vehicle overnight, even in secure underground parking lots (Secure underground parking lots are a popular stalking ground for bike thieves)
- If you are required to store your bike in a designated area, such as a bike locker, use two different, high quality locks and remove the seat
Released by
Cst. Mansoor Sahak
Media Relations OfficerNorth Vancouver RCMP
147 East 14th St, North Van., BC, V7L 2N4
Office: 604-985-1311
Cell: 778-228-1619
Email:
mansoor.sahak@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: nvan.rcmp-grc.gc.ca
(English only)
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