Prince George RCMP's bait bike lured three suspected thieves in slightly more than one hour on Wednesday.
RCMP said Orlando James Egnell, 31, of Prince George was apprehended just four minutes after it was deployed. He has since been released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5 on a charge of theft $5,000 or under.
About an hour later it was back on the street and within minutes a 49-year-old local man tried to steal the bike. And a few minutes after that, a 30-year-old man was arrested after the bike was redeployed in the same area.
Both were released on promises to appear at later dates and charges remain pending. Their names were not provided.
Earlier this month, the bait bike helped nab three suspects in less than three hours. Two of the cases remain before the courts while charges remain pending for a third.
It's not the sole answer to reducing bike thefts and RCMP are asking bike owners to do their part by taking steps to prevent their bikes from being stolen and aiding a quick recovery in the event they go missing.
Those steps include:
- Always using a high-quality lock designed for bicycles. The extra expense is worth it. Avoid cables and inexpensive locks, as they can be defeated easily and quickly;
- Reporting bike thefts right away. Many thefts are never reported to police, giving officers no chance of arresting someone in possession of it. Even if the bike isn't worth much to you, reporting it could help arrest a thief.
- Knowing the bike's serial number. Even if the bike is recovered, owners need to show that the bike is theirs. The best way to do this, is to provide a serial number.
- Registering bikes with 529 Garage (www.project529.com). Essential information like make, model, serial number and photos are recorded and accessible on any internet device which helps get the word out to other cyclists so they can keep an eye out for the stolen bike.
