Four bikes stolen last week from Oak Bay High School highlight this rising issue in Oak Bay.
“Bikes are unique as there aren’t many $3,000 items we leave alone outside all day, trusting only a $20 lock,” says Deputy Chief Ray Bernoties. “That is not to, in any way, blame those who have had a bike stolen but to simply point out part of the challenge.”
The police are trying to combat the issue with a bike registry, bait bikes and public awareness.
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The Oak Bay Police Bike Registry is a fast 5-minute process that involves bringing your bike by the police station to sign up with your bike’s serial number and to receive a deterrent sticker for your bike. If your bike is stolen and recovered, the police can easily return it to you.
There are also measures you can take to discourage bike theft.
“We encourage locking bikes in high visibility areas and never leaving them out overnight,”says Bernoties.
Gerald Smeltzer, a director on the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, is calling for change from School District 61 and Oak Bay Parks and Recreation, saying that there are not enough secure places on the grounds of Oak Bay High to lock bikes.
Oak Bay Police stolen bicycle statistics:2016201745 – bike theft reports57 – bike theft reports7 – from Oak Bay High16 – from Oak Bay High9 – from UVIC (Oak Bay side of campus)14 – from UVIC (Oak Bay side of campus)1 – from Oak Bay Recreation Centre3 – from Oak Bay Recreation Centre
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