Bicycle thefts soaring in Penticton

PENTICTON – Take extra steps to protect your bicycle in Penticton, RCMP advise.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the detachment has seen a 300 per cent increase in bicycle thefts in the Peach City this year over last.

Scooter thefts are also up significantly.

Wrigglesworth says the thefts are not confined to any particular part of the city, nor are any specific brands or models being targeted. People are losing their bikes even when taking the precaution of locking them prior to entering a store.

The detachment is working on a program to help identify and broadcast stolen bikes to the general public.

“Take your bike inside if you can. Locks don’t seem to work. As far as I’m concerned, I will be charging anyone I catch with bolt cutters, unless they can give me a good reason for having them on their person,” he says.

Wrigglesworth says a large number of people in the community survive on theft and property crime.

“As a police officer, when I see these individuals on a high end bicycle, knowing they have not been gainfully employed, I know they would not be able to afford them. However, when I check the bike and find it doesn’t come back stolen because the owner hasn’t taken the time to record the serial number, it’s upsetting,” he says.

“Bike owners need to photograph their bikes, and record the serial number. We can’t retrieve it if we can’t prove it’s stolen,” he says.

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