'Bait bikes' are being used by the LPS to catch would-be-thieves. (Photo supplied by the Lethbridge Police Service)

By Justin Goulet

Protect your wheels: Lethbridge Police use ‘bait bikes’ to target thieves

May 19, 2022 | 9:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A community crime initiative from the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is focusing in on bike thieves.

Earlier this week, members of the LPS Property Crimes Unit used an investigative technique involving a ‘bait bike’ that was left in the downtown core of the city.

The bike was securely locked to a street sign. The LPS says that within 15 minutes, officers spotted a man who stole the bike and rode away from the scene.

The man was arrested without incident a short distance from the area and was subsequently charged with theft. 50-year-old Robert Leon Crow Eagle, of Lethbridge, was released from custody and is scheduled to be in court on August 16, 2022.

Police have used bait bikes successfully in the past and will continue to use them throughout the summer months, in an effort to apprehend thieves and help deter bike thefts.

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The LPS says that locally, many stolen bikes are used by thieves as a means of transportation. However, stolen bikes and bike parts are also frequently traded for drugs or sold for profit, according to the LPS.

STOLEN BIKES

In 2021, the LPS says 521 bikes were reported stolen, with 123 of those recovered. That equates to a four per cent decease in bikes stolen from 2020, and a three per cent higher recovery rate.

From January 1 to May 18, 2022, 95 bikes have been reported stolen, with 20 recovered.

The LPS is offering tips to residents to help reduce the likelihood of their bike being stolen:

• Always lock up your bike. A U-lock is recommended;
• Lock your bike to a secure rack or object (designated bike racks are recommended) and make sure to lock both a wheel and the frame;
• Lock bikes in well-lit, well-travelled areas and in a locked shed or garage if possible;
• Do not leave bikes unlocked and unattended outside a business, or front or back yards, carports or patios.

Additionally, police are encouraging residents to register their bikes with Bike Index, a free program launched in 2020. If police recover a registered bike that was lost or stolen, Bike Index can help officers return the bike to its owner as quickly as possible.

More information on Bike Index is available at the LPS website.

Details included in Bike Index are the bicycle’s serial number, make, model and colours. A photo and information about any distinguishing features can be added. If owners include their phone number, which is viewable only by police, they can be contacted if their stolen or lost bike is recovered.

Bike Index stickers are available through the LPS as well as at participating bike shops in Lethbridge – Alpenland, Ascent Cycle, and Bert and Mac’s.

The LPS says the stickers can serve as a deterrent to would-be-thieves by showing that the bike is registered, and the owner can be identified by scanning the index code.