Five would-be thieves have been snared with the help of a bait bike, Prince George RCMP say.
The suspects, all known to police, were apprehended over the course of four deployments in late May, and RCMP say they won't be letting up.
"We plan to continue deploying the bike throughout the summer months, in an effort to slow this trend," Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said.
Police are also encouraging owners to make sure their bikes are locked and secured before leaving them at the rack.
"One thing we want the public to note is that the thefts all occurred in less than 20 minutes, the fastest coming in at eight minutes," Cooper said. "This is a crime of opportunity that does not take very long to execute, so there is not really a 'safe window' for leaving a bike unattended."
And police are asking owners to record key information that can help RCMP return bikes to their rightful owners should they be stolen and recovered.
That information includes a bike's colour, make and model, serial numbers and any modifications that have been made. A recent photo of the bike is also a good idea.
All five suspects were released on undertakings with future court dates and, as of Tuesday, a count of theft $5,000 or under has been approved against one of them: Sheldon Robert Stewart, who has a record for similar offences.
