BOTH of the North Shore's police forces are urging residents to keep a close eye and sturdy lock on their bicycles following a spate of recent thefts.
Seven mountain bikes valued at more than $20,000 went missing from North Vancouver bike lockers and garages in the third week of June, according to North Vancouver RCMP.
Between June 17 and 24, thieves broke into garages on the 1200-bock of Seymour Boulevard, 100-block of West 17th Street and the 2000-block of Larson Road.
Among the bikes stolen were a 17-inch frame black Cove, a 17-inch Sauce Brodie and five specialized bikes of varying models and colours, all taken from one garage.
Police are investigating and have added bike serial numbers to the police stolen property list.
"Police are reminding all bike owners to be extra vigilant this time of year when thieves may target your valuable property," said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.
"Please report all suspicious occurrences, vehicles or individuals in your neighborhood, to the police."
West Vancouver police meanwhile have had 13 reports of stolen bikes since the start of the month, a huge spike over the first six months of 2012, which saw only 10 bikes disappear.
Thieves in West Vancouver, however, had considerably less breaking and entering to do to get their ill-gotten gains. Several of the stolen bicycles had been stored unlocked outside residences or in carports and in one instance, a bicycle was stolen after being left inside an unlocked SUV.
Leaving a bike for easy pickin's not only puts it at risk, it also encourages more theft in the neighbourhood and provides a thief with a convenient getaway vehicle, a West Vancouver Police Department press release warns.
Stolen bikes are frequently stripped for parts and sold piece-by-piece online by word of mouth, though buying or possessing stolen goods is a crime.
Anyone with information about the thefts is encouraged to alert Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
