(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – Within the past week the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has investigated numerous bicycle thefts from across the detachment area. The nicer weather appears to have triggered bicycle thieves within many of Perth County’s communities.
During the early hours of Saturday July 18th, a garage on Donegan St. West in Listowel was broken into and a high-end road bicycle was removed from within. The white 2015 OPUS 21speed road-bike had a rack in the back and an attachment for a front basket. The bike had a bell and a mirror as well as a digital speedometer.
Sometime between Saturday night July 18th, and Sunday morning July 19th, three bicycles were stolen from beside a home on Jones St. East in St.Marys. The bikes are described as follows:
Bike#1. SUBROSA BMX bike, Model Salvador, purple/green in colour, adult frame
Bike#2. KHJ Mountain bike, Model 25P, red in colour, adult frame
Bike#3. KHS Mountain bike, Model DJ200, blue in colour, child frame
On Monday July 20th, the owner of a black HARROW Railer X5 adult sized bicycle contacted police and advised that the bike had been stolen from a bike rack located on Main St. West in Listowel sometime shortly after midnight and 10 a.m. Monday July 20th. The front tire was removed to circumvent the bicycle lock.
Between 9 p.m. Monday July 20th, and 8 a.m. Tuesday July 21st, a bicycle was stolen from inside a residential garage on St. Andrew St. in St.Marys. Description of bicycle:
Mens GT Avalanche 3.0, black in colour with large blue streaks. It is described as a hardtail bike with front shocks and hydraulic disc brakes.
The owner of a bicycle that was locked and attached to a bicycle rack on Nelson Ave. South in Listowel, contacted police to advise that a 26” wheel had been stolen from her bicycle sometime on Monday July 20th.
Anyone with information about these thefts or the whereabouts of the bikes is requested to contact the Perth County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), and you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000
As a result of recent thefts of bicycles in Perth County, the Perth County OPP wants the public to step up their approach to theft prevention. For starters, bike owners should utilize high quality locks and use them to attach their bikes to solid objects when leaving them in public areas. At home bikes should be stored in locked sheds or garages.
The additional step that bicycle owners should take is to record serial numbers. Most bicycles have distinct serial numbers. These numbers in conjunction with the bicycle description will allow for easier identification of your bike.
If your bike is stolen or goes missing, the serial number, make and model, as well as the colour and description can be added to the police information data base. This information of the bike can now be used to identify bicycles that are recovered or found in possession of other persons. A picture of the bicycle is also helpful.
Locating your bike’s serial number:
The majority of serial numbers are located under the bottom bracket where the two pedal cranks meet. Simply turn your bike upside down and record the number. If there is no serial number there then check places like the headset at the front of the bike or the rear stays (inside the horizontal bar near the rear axle). It may also be located on the seat tube next to the crank, or on the round steel on top of the crank. If you just can’t find anything then you can engrave your licence plate number or other identifying numbers.
“The harder it is to steal your bike, the more likely it will be there when you want to ride it”.