In a span of just two hours, Prince George RCMP scored a hat trick of arrests when they deployed a bait bike on Thursday.
Deven Douglas Oulette, 24, and Stacie Anne Buttee, 46, have both been charged with theft under $5,000 while a 19-year-old woman was released on a promise to appear at a later date.
The longest the bike stayed in one place before being stolen was 25 minutes.
"The theft of bicycles in our community is a big issue" said Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Thieves specifically target bicycles for a quick and easy profit, and the bait bike initiative specifically targets the thieves."
The bait bike will continue to be part of the RCMP's arsenal for rounding up bike thieves.
They are also 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.
