Winnipeg bike theft not slowing down

Nearly every Winnipegger has a bike theft story.

It’s a crime that has touched thousands of people in the city in the past, and the problem doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon.

Winnipeg police say that so far in 2017, almost 2,000 bicycles have been reported stolen in the city. That brings the total of the last three calendar years up over 7,300 bikes — and that doesn’t include the rides that weren’t reported stolen.

“There’s been a lot of bikes stolen in the city lately,” Constable Jay Murray said. “Unfortunately we find a lot of bikes and the serial number is not recorded, so there’s only so much we can do in terms of investigation.”

Winnipeg police chalk up the rise to the increased number of drugs, specifically methamphetamine, on city streets. They said they believe that drug addicts steal to support their addictions.

READ MORE: ‘Methamphetamine has absolutely gripped the city’: Winnipeg police

“The majority of property crime in this city is related to the methamphetamine subculture,” Cst. Murray said.

But with almost 13 bikes gone missing per day in August thus far, it’s a problem that goes deeper.

Tim Woodcock, who owns Woodcock Cycle, said he believes a lot of it comes down to Winnipeg cyclists not properly locking up.

 “The lock is only as good as what you secure it to.”

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Woodcock said Wednesday that in order to be sure bikes are safe, they need to be double locked with a U-Lock and a cable lock, and that they should be left in high-traffic areas.

Woodcock also warned against leaving bikes locked up to signs, as thieves can unbolt posts and slide locks off and away.