Igor's bike theft bust was a big wake-up call for the public and politicians. Recovering over 2500 bikes stuffed into garages around city gave some tangible evidence of just how many bikes are stolen. Then to have only a tiny fraction of those bikes be recovered by their proper owners was even worse. If people don't register their bikes it becomes much harder to claim their bike and the police have few ways to track it. The sad thing is that most of the bikes will probably be returned to Igor because it can't be proved that they're not his.
The thought crossed my mind: we need to start a campaign to get most bike stores to register bikes with the police when they actually sell the bike. As soon as I thought it, I saw that Councillor Adrian Heaps, Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee Chair wants to do exactly that: he wants to work with the police to implement an in-store registration system. When a customer buys a bike it gets registered.
If you still haven't registered your bike, even if it was recently stolen, it might not be too late. You can register it with the Toronto Police for free or with Bike Registry Canada for a small fee (and it is registered nationally).
Comments
The EnigManiac
The wake-up call...
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 23:28...was not just for Toronto cyclists, but, hopefully, for the police as well. They wonder why a mere fraction of the near-3,000 bikes recovered have been returned to their rightful owners when the answer is obvious: reporting the theft is greeted with indifference and apathy, victims are advised there is little if any chance of getting their bike back whether it was registered or not because the police won't even make the slightest effort to look into the matter. It just isn't sexy enough to investigate, not like a good entertainment-district shooting or major drug bust. Ah, but how much press have the police received over the Igor Krenk case? More than mst murders, drug-busts and gang wars I'v seen in recent memory. How sexy is that?
The police should be ashamed. Cyclists have been telling them for years to take a look at Igor, but they ignored the valuable information. Now, when they find almost 3,000 stolen bikes they need to see those 3,000 stolen bikes as 3,000 unsolved, uninvestigated cases. I doubt that media attention would be as sexy if the press decided to focus on the police's inability and unwillingness to do their job. They failed the bike community and our society at large by disrespecting both the crime and the value of those bikes to those of us who rely upon them as our primary means of transportation. But what does it matter? Most cops live way out in the suburbs where few, if any, ride their bikes year-round. They just don't understand.
So, while it might be a good idea to register your bikes (as I did on the first day the system went online) now that it's easy and convenient, I certainly understand why most didn't bother, nor bother to report the theft. Why waste their time, after all?
tanya
Igor won't get the unclaimed bikes
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 00:39According to media reports after July 31, (not very long! hurry up and go look!) any unclaimed bikes will be sold at auction.
Anonymous (not verified)
My experience in dealing
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 09:43My experience in dealing with the Toronto Police Service is different than the above commenter's. I have found cops to be very professional, polite and effective.
The more cyclists can do to help the police service the better. This is why bike registration campaigns are a great idea. My own two velocipedes (the only vehicles I own, other than a skateboard) are registered both locally and nationally.
People's interest in activism varies widely. I'm doing what little I can. Let's all keep up the good fight to get bicycles mainstreamed in Toronto. For instance: let's put more pressure on Mayor Miller to get many more safe bike lanes installed around the city.
Svend
The police needed to be
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 10:39The police needed to be shamed and led by the hand. Even then, they didn't take action until bolt cutters were used right in front of them in broad daylight.
It's the same for car theft or if you've had a home break-in. They don't actively do anything, just let you know if your car happens to turn up. They're just overpaid cataloguers of data, no wonder few report their bike stolen.
Jr (not verified)
Thank Goodness
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 16:17....that this crook has finally ben caught. As some who had to lose several high end bikes over the past ten years, I for one am glad it finally happened. It's been a running joke "if your bike is stolen, go check out anyone of this guy's shops, it will likely be there". Not to mention the thousands of "parts" he's sold off through Craigslist and Pinkbike over the years. We all know the sum of the parts are worth more separated.
Police are slow, but let's not alienate them by throwing bad vibes. What's done is done. The jug is broken and we can't mend it with regret. Let's do our part to support a registry system that works!
Kevin Love (not verified)
My stolen bike experience
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 21:40In spite of a heavy-duty lock my bicycle was stolen 1 1/2 years ago. The thieves must have had serious power tools and spent a lot of time and work to steal it.
The police really, really didn't care in the slightest bit when I called. The police attitude was "why are you bothering us. Go away and leave us alone. So you're a crime victim. Big deal."
Needless to say, there was zero police investigation of this crime. There was plenty that they could have done, like taking fingerprints from where the thieves had set the lock remains aside. But no. The police made it clear that they just don't care about crime.
I felt so angry and frustrated at being the victim of a crime when the police did absolutely nothing about it. I feel like I was victimized twice over. Once by the thieves and once by the police.
I know that if I was a rich corporation or a powerful politician the police would be falling all over themselves to do whatever I want. But when an ordinary guy is a crime victim they just don't care.
Mason (not verified)
bike serial number
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 10:42Do all bikes have serial numbers, or just newer ones? I looked all over my mountain bike (made in the late 80's) and couldn't find anything resembling a serial number - does that mean I won't be able to register my bike? Or just that I'll have to provide a very thorough description?
Anonymous (not verified)
bike serial number
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 10:57Same thing with me. I looked all over my bicycle (Trek) this weekend and cannot find a serial number. Would it be on an attached plate or stamped on?
Serial number is a required field on the TPS reg.
Ben
Serial Number
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 11:10It is stamped on the anterior of your bottom bracket shell or on one of the chain stays. You might have to clean the grime off to find it.
darren
trek serial number
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 11:28I also have a trek mountain bike that, as far as I can tell, has no serial number. I bought it in the US, in case that's relevant.
-dj
Andrew
Serial number locations
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 13:51I had the same problem looking for the serial number on my Devinci. It turned out to be on the chainstay of the non-drive side of the bike, near the bottom bracket. It was hard to see because of the grime.
re: Bike Registry Canada. Has anyone gone and done this? Do different jurisdictions of police actually look at this when they receive suspected stolen bikes? There is a nice discount for MEC members.
Theo (not verified)
serial numbers etc.
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 13:52not all bikes have serials however I have heard that the police can laser etch one on or you can etch one in (with something sharp then to avoid rusting cover in clearcoat/nailpolish).
Bike shops I would wager hardly care if you get your bike registered. If you get your bike registerd you stand a sliver of a chance of getting it back which means that they lose that chance of you going back to buy a new bike.
I think perhaps that it has to remain up to the consumer. If you're not registering your bike its your own fault.
I didn't register mine, it got stolen...it sucks.
tanya
Bike shops and theft
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 15:17Some people have implied that bike shops don't care about theft because they stand to profit from it when the victim buys a replacement. I don't know how a bike shop owner thinks but I would imagine:
- many people from anecdotes I hear give up bike commuting after having one or multiple bikes stolen, and are therefore no longer customers for having their bikes repaired, or buying new accessories.
- unless you have insurance that is paying the full value of the bike theft, how many new bikes are you goign to buy anyway? maybe a new bike once the first time... but after that you would no doubt turn to the used market
By helping you register your bike the bike dealer is guaranteeing if the customer gets their bike back to have a repair and accessory customer - where more of the money is being made.
Anonymous (not verified)
assumptions assumptions not
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 09:40assumptions assumptions
not bike commuting doesn't mean they stop cycling
many people do have insurance
many people like new bikes and don't like others used problems
unless there is a warranty does everyone bring their bikes back to their dealer for service especially when there are much much cheaper options
anyways not to get into a pissing contest
one thing is for certain that the only surefire way to implement this plan is through legislation.
Whether you or the poster above's deductions are correct or not.
Steph (not verified)
Bike Shops very helpful
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 11:02Everytime I've purchased a bike through a shop, they've written the serial number on the receipt and encouraged me to register it. At my latest purchase at Cyclepath they put the serial number into the computer (for the buy-back program) which means they have a record too.
Tanya is right, I go back to my local bike shop(s) because they've been helpful with theft-prevention strategies, made little adjustments and repairs (for free) and I buy my accessories from them. They want me to be happy and tell other people I like their shop, not have me be unhappy because my bike was stolen.
tanya
Trek serial numbers
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 15:24see http://www.vintage-trek.com/SerialNumbers.htm
for help.