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North Vancouver RCMP warn of bike 'rack-eteering'

Some racks easily removed and sold online
Bike Rack getty web
North Vancouver RCMP say bike racks may be low-hanging fruit for thieves.

After a couple of incidents of rack-eteering, North Vancouver RCMP are warning the public to keep their vehicles’ bike racks firmly locked.

Like all outdoor recreational gear, bikes and accessories have been in higher demand during the pandemic. Depending on their size and quality, bike racks for vehicles can retail for upwards of $1,000. Used ones posted for sale online list in the hundreds of dollars.

“Bike racks can be fairly easily stolen,” said Sgt. Peter DeVries, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. “They are fairly low-hanging fruit. For anyone who doesn’t have them secured with a locking device on their vehicle, often, they can be easily taken off with just the security pin they’re fastened on.”

Beyond keeping them locked, RCMP recommend removing the racks entirely when they’re not in use.