Reports of bicycles thefts in the City of Grande Prairie are down year-over-year, but the number of thefts remains a concern for local police.
Grande Prairie RCMP Staff Sergeant Shawn Graham says 14 stolen bike reports made it to police in June and 18 in July, down from 15 and 20 respectively in those months in 2021. Graham’s urging the public to also report these things to police, so they can begin an investigation.
He adds he understands that reporting it to police might seem trivial, but adds that often bikes get recovered and they lay charges in connection to the thefts.
“If there are bike thefts happening in a certain area, we will focus our policing on these things that are happening. The public plays a crucial role, and connection with police in dealing with crime in the city,” he says.
“They’re the eyes and ears, and there are a lot of people in the public that are out and about and if they see something suspicious, or see a bike getting stolen, report it right away and we have a good chance of finding it and getting the property back to the owner.”
Sergeant Graham says there are some tips residents can use when it comes to prevent becoming a victim of the crime of opportunity.
“Don’t leave them outside, if you store it in a shed, or in your home so it’s out of sight out of mind. When you go somewhere, have a lock so you can lock your bike to something… it’s a crime of opportunity and if someone sees a bike unlocked they’ll just grab it and go,” he adds.