Just because you take something, doesn't make it yours and three people have found out the hard way.
Mounties in Prince George say three arrests were made after they deployed a bait bike in the community yesterday (May 9).
Cpl. Craig Douglass says over the course of just two hours, the bike was stolen three times, which resulted in the arrest of three people.
The longest the bike was out before being stolen was 25 minutes.
Devenn Douglas Oulette (24 years old) and Stacie Anne Buttee (46 years old) have both been charged by the B.C. Prosecution Service with theft under $5,000.
A third suspect, a 19-year-old woman, was released on a promise to appear in court later in the spring; all three live in Prince George.
"The theft of bicycles in our community is a big issue" Cpl. Craig Douglass, spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP and coordinator of the Detachment's anti-bike theft initiative says in a release. "Thieves specifically target bicycles for a quick and easy profit, and the bait bike initiative specifically targets the thieves."
Specifics about the bait bike, where it was deployed and any other details will not be released, police say they will continue to use the program and other enforcement tactics.
Police add in most cases, owners do not know the bike serial number or have it somewhere accessible which makes the chances of getting a bike back essentially zero.
Douglass adds bike owners should do the following steps to ensure their bike safety:
- Register your bike with a program such as the 529 Garage App (www.project529.com)
- Essential information like make, model, serial number and photos are recorded and accessible on any internet device
- Always use a high-quality lock designed for bicycles
- The extra expense is worth it
- Avoid cables and inexpensive locks, as they can be defeated easily and quickly
- Report bike thefts right away
- Many thefts are never reported to police, giving officers no chance of arresting someone in possession of it
- Even if the bike isn't worth much to you, reporting it could help arrest a thief
If you have any information about local bike thefts, you are asked to contact Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.
