Don't forget the batteries

A new-minted North Vancouver business is out almost $50,000 after some ecologically minded thieves made off with a dozen high-end electric bikes.

The culprits broke into myStromer E-bikes at 788 Copping St. overnight Friday and carted off 12 of the Swiss-made motorized bicycles, valued at about $4,000 each, according to police. Transporting the bikes, which weigh in at a hefty 22 kilograms, likely required a cube van, said investigators.

"This is a significant theft of some very unique property," said Cpl. Richard De Jong, a spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, in a release. "This appears to be a targeted offence."

The thieves may have difficulty passing off the goods, however, since they did not take any of the specialized chargers required to power them up.

The bicycles are solid red, solid black or solid white, they have distinctively thick frames - which house large embedded batteries - and are marked with the brand name Stromer.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the North Vancouver RCMP.