In 2019, the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP received 118 reports of bicycle thefts as well as numerous reports of found bikes. While investigating such crimes, most owners don’t have pictures, the make and model or a serial number for their bicycle.
All of these can help a lot when police are trying to find your lost or stolen bike.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are inviting everyone to register their bikes on 529 Garage. 529 Garage was born in 2013 in Vancouver where it’s grown to become the largest bike registry and used by some of the largest police forces. Community members as well as police officers can access the 529 Garage app on their mobile phones to quickly identify stolen bikes in the community.
“Registering your bike on the 529 Garage app not only helps prevent bike thefts, it increases your chances of having your bike returned in the event of a theft,” said an RCMP press release. “Once registered, by pushing a button on the 529 Garage app you can send an alert to your friends, family, neighbours and every 529 garage member to advise them that your bike is lost or stolen. Your bicycle will then be registered in the application as stolen and can be seen by over 400 policing agencies.”
Registering your bike takes less than five minutes. Visit www.project529.com to register your bicycle for free. Alternatively, visit any participating bike shop in the Cowichan Valley.
In the event your bike is stolen, in addition to flagging your bicycle as stolen on 529 Garage app, please contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP non-emergency line to file an official report: 250-748-5522.
