RCMP bait bike reels in more catches

Three arrests were made following the attempted theft of the RCMP’s bait bike.

On May 15, the Prince George RCMP deployed their bait bike yet again in the community, and as Cpl Craig Douglass says, numbers have remained consistent with regards to the number of arrests being made.

Earlier this month, the bait bike was deployed for the first time, resulting in three arrests.

After just four minutes of being deployed, an attempt of stealing the bike was made which then resulted in an arrest of a 31-year-old man.

Approximately an hour after the initial deployment, officers redeployed the bike. Officers arrested a 49-year-old Prince George man following another theft of the bait bike. The bike was also stolen within minutes of being deployed. The suspect was released on a Promise to Appear for a future court date.

Mere minutes after the second arrest, police deployed the bike yet again in the same area. Once again, the bike was stolen a short time after being deployed. This time, a 30-year-old male from Prince George was arrested in possession of the bike. He would also be released on a Promise to Appear.

Cpl. Craig Douglass says the Prince George RCMP will continue to target bike thieves through this program and other enforcement tactics.

“The Bait Bike Program has been successful in other communities. This is our first year deploying it, but I certainly think it’s here to stay.”

According to RCMP, owners do not know their serial number of the bike in most stolen bike cases.

Three things that every bike owner SHOULD do:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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.