Craigslist is the perfect site for men seeking women, workers seeking employment, and police seeking criminals.
A stolen bike was returned to its owner recently after the aggrieved cyclist recruited North Vancouver police for a sting on suspected Craigslist thieves.
After his road bike was swiped in February, the owner perused the classified section on Craigslist, eventually stumbling on a bike that looked very much like his own.
Police officers posing as bicycle enthusiasts arranged to meet with the three vendors to buy the bike. The sellers, three North Vancouver men, were arrested on charges of possession and trafficking of stolen property.
While this owner ended up back on two wheels, Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, warned victims of crime to be wary about trying to buy back their property from possible criminals.
“When you’re dealing with stolen property, you’re dealing with the criminal element,” he said. “They could have not had the bike and taken the guy’s money.”
Police advise cyclists to record their bike’s serial number. Bicycle owners might also deter thieves by using two types of locks, such as a U-lock and a cable lock, thereby forcing crooks to use two types of tools, he added.
