Castanet

tantor wrote:
Not to hard to figure it out when you see a homeless guy with a bag full of bottles and tattered clothes hanging off of him, that the 4000 dollar Giant mountain bike he is riding doesn't belong to him. I see street people all over town riding bikes that I can't afford after working 50 plus hours a week. Any officer who looks at these people and does not make immediate contact with them to find out where they acquired such an expensive bike is not doing his job.

This is a good reason why bikes should have to be licensed (and sticker/plate displayed). Also, wouldn't hurt the police to toss the bike in the trunk of the PC; take it back to the station and have the person prove ownership before they get it back. Since most of these types are not wearing helmets, and riding on the sidewalk or wrong direction, they aren't hard to spot.

pentona wrote:This is a good reason why bikes should have to be licensed (and sticker/plate displayed). Also, wouldn't hurt the police to toss the bike in the trunk of the PC; take it back to the station and have the person prove ownership before they get it back. Since most of these types are not wearing helmets, and riding on the sidewalk or wrong direction, they aren't hard to spot.

Plates and stickers don't prevent vehicles from being stolen. As well, police aren't going to take the time to check everyone's plate/stickers.

There's is a website set up by the local RCMP where you can register your bike online: https://project529.com/garage/organizations/kelownarcmp/landing That way if your bike gets stolen and it's found, the police can reunite you with it.

RustyCrayon wrote:
Plates and stickers don't prevent vehicles from being stolen. As well, police aren't going to take the time to check everyone's plate/stickers.

There's is a website set up by the local RCMP where you can register your bike online: https://project529.com/garage/organizations/kelownarcmp/landing That way if your bike gets stolen and it's found, the police can reunite you with it.

I realize the police don't always have the time; however when they see someone riding without a helmet, and they do have the time, toss the bike in the PC, take it back to the detachment (where serial numbers could be checked) and IF the person brings in a helmet to prove that they have one, give the bike back at that point (if its not stolen).

The registration system does work to some degree, however these brazen thieves will steal "parts" off the bike if they can't cut the main lock. Wheels, seats, handlebars are all easily ripped off, sadly.

pentona wrote:I realize the police don't always have the time; however when they see someone riding without a helmet, and they do have the time, toss the bike in the PC, take it back to the detachment (where serial numbers could be checked) and IF the person brings in a helmet to prove that they have one, give the bike back at that point (if its not stolen).

The registration system does work to some degree, however these brazen thieves will steal "parts" off the bike if they can't cut the main lock. Wheels, seats, handlebars are all easily ripped off, sadly.

I have never seen the police stop anyone for riding without a helmet. (Yes, I know wearing a helmet is the law) I see junkies/thieves riding around on their stolen bikes all the time, and have never seen them riding with a helmet. Have you ever seen the police pull one of them over for not wearing a helmet or riding a bike that is clearly not theirs?

Again, the whole plate and sticker thing wouldn't make any difference. Do you think that because the bike has a plate and sticker, that bike isn't going to get parted out? Thieves don't care. Most of the expensive bikes end up in other cities and provinces.

RustyCrayon wrote:
I have never seen the police stop anyone for riding without a helmet. (Yes, I know wearing a helmet is the law) I see junkies/thieves riding around on their stolen bikes all the time, and have never seen them riding with a helmet. Have you ever seen the police pull one of them over for not wearing a helmet or riding a bike that is clearly not theirs?

Again, the whole plate and sticker thing wouldn't make any difference. Do you think that because the bike has a plate and sticker, that bike isn't going to get parted out? Thieves don't care. Most of the expensive bikes end up in other cities and provinces.

You're right; the police seem to ignore the helmet law. There should be a blitz done on this to put some teeth into the law; it would be a good start. These junkies (usually riding bmx bikes, with hoodies and backpacks) are easily spotted and if they were forced to wear a helmet, they would likely not bother with the bikes. Remember the bikes are their getaway vehicles in a lot of thefts.

I would not want to be the cop who saw a person on a bike with no helmet and they had the time to stop them, didn't bother and in the next block they see the biker having had a serious accident and dies because of a head inury. It will happen.

As a followup on my earlier post about the friend who lost the bike and trailer ...

They decided to go down to Bikeways to get a new bike to pull the trailer that was recovered ... and they found their bike! Still need to go down and talk to the manager to get a more full story but the owner has everything back now ...

With all the discussion about these stolen bikes, one thing puzzles me.
Why is there no comment about the BUYERS of these stolen bikes?
All the crackheads in town are not selling them to each other.
There would be no market for them if SOMEONE was not paying these crackheads for stolen goods.
If you gave a bike to every "homeless" or "street person" in Kelowna, it still would not account for all the bikes which are stolen.

gardengirl wrote:With all the discussion about these stolen bikes, one thing puzzles me.
Why is there no comment about the BUYERS of these stolen bikes?
All the crackheads in town are not selling them to each other.
There would be no market for them if SOMEONE was not paying these crackheads for stolen goods.
If you gave a bike to every "homeless" or "street person" in Kelowna, it still would not account for all the bikes which are stolen.

A friend of a friend bought her daughters first tricycle this way

Third hand knowledge is irrelevant. To actually know one would have to be there. If you don't have a bill of sale from a reputable store then you're taking a chance on stolen goods.

TerriJ73 wrote:

gardengirl wrote:With all the discussion about these stolen bikes, one thing puzzles me.
Why is there no comment about the BUYERS of these stolen bikes?
All the crackheads in town are not selling them to each other.
There would be no market for them if SOMEONE was not paying these crackheads for stolen goods.
If you gave a bike to every "homeless" or "street person" in Kelowna, it still would not account for all the bikes which are stolen.

A friend of a friend bought her daughters first tricycle this way

Ah yes, the old “friend of a friend”. Nice to know you have “friends” that support the crackhead bike thieves plaguing this town. How do you think someone else’s daughter felt when that trike was ripped off? Nothing to be proud of or brag about having friends like that.

WalterWhite wrote:Why

Ah yes, the old “friend of a friend”. Nice to know you have “friends” that support the crackhead bike thieves plaguing this town. How do you think someone else’s daughter felt when that trike was ripped off? Nothing to be proud of or brag about having friends like that.

WW goes all serious. I guess I needed the sarcasm font for that joke.

TerriJ73 wrote:

WalterWhite wrote:Why

Ah yes, the old “friend of a friend”. Nice to know you have “friends” that support the crackhead bike thieves plaguing this town. How do you think someone else’s daughter felt when that trike was ripped off? Nothing to be proud of or brag about having friends like that.

WW goes all serious. I guess I needed the sarcasm font for that joke.

- or now you’re just (pardon the pun) backpedaling.
Btw, it’s a serious no-no to alter quotes.

I get the feeling there’s a troll online

So having a lock or even two can be a deterrant but is there is an age, type, color etc. that bike theieves tend to stay away from? I know my 15 year old son's $800 mountain bike(of which he saved up all his own money for because we don't have money for that kind of thing) would be extremely desirable for bike theives. He has a $100 Kryptonite lock as well as a an extra U-lock. It's in the garage chained up in case we forget to close the garage door. He also has an extra $100 used Giant mountain bike that he takes to school and for bumming around town but thats chained up in our back yard along with my $100 used 1991 Schwinn hybrid. My bike is transportation to and from work and to me it may as well be a $1000 bike because if it gets stolen then I have to find another $100 bike for work.

On another note how good of a bike deal can you get at the Bike restore place on St. Paul? I only had a budget of $150 when I bought my 1991 hybrid for $100 on Castanet. Its a cool Chromoly bike that crusies along nicely and works well but it still is an old bike. Im worried that i should have waited and seen what the bike restore place had for $150 that may have lasted me a lot longer. If i could get an even better deal then I may consider selling my bike and buy one from there.