It never fails – warmer weather leads to an increase in thefts within Martensville. Recently, it seems that social media is brimming with incidents of items being stolen from yards, school grounds and vehicles. Local residents have taken to community Facebook pages in hopes that someone can locate their stolen items, identify thiefs or posting about found items.
RCMP Sergeant Vaughn Allcock provided some tips for residents to help prevent bicycle theft. Allcock suggested that using one of the more high quality bike locks and locking bicycles to a secure object both through the frame and wheels are big deterrents to thieves. Also, ensure that any quick release parts are secured. The best way to prevent theft however; is to bring bicycles in at night and if stored inside a shed or garage, secure the bicycle with a lock for added protection.
It is recommended that upon purchase of a bicycle, retain proof of purchase, and ensure that you have the serial number on hand for identification in case of theft. Allcock also suggests that you keep photographs of your bicycle with identifying marks or modifications to assist police in recovery and that there are GPS tracking devices that can be attached to bicycles to aid in recovery. If your bicycle is stolen, immediately report the incident to the police by calling (306) 975-1610.
Each year, hundreds of bikes that are located and unclaimed go to auction, so SPS has been promoting this program in hopes of returning more found bicycles to their rightful owners. Saskatoon Police Service has a program called #GetMyBikeBack, which the Martensville RCMP detachment works with them on. The purpose of this program is to encourage bike owners to record serial numbers and other identifying information. Within an informational brochure, it states that, “Bikes and bike parts are actually used as currency in the drug trade. For that reason, the SPS encourages you to record your bicycle information and enter it in our registry. This information is for police use only in the event your bike is lost or stolen.” In order to participate in this program, you can visit saskatoonpolice.ca, or download the SPS Mobile App for iOS and Android. Information needed for the #GetMyBikeBack program is the make, model, type, serial number and colour of the bicycle.
