Powell River RCMP has joined a global digital bicycle-registration system designed to help reunite stolen bikes with their owners.
The online platform, Project 529, lets owners register their bicycles and issue an alert if one is stolen. Community members can report found bikes and notify police if they suspect they are stolen.
“In regions where the program has been deployed, there has been a marked decrease in bicycle thefts as the criminal element becomes aware of the project and the risk of apprehension increases,” Staff Sgt. Lee Dyson said.
An RCMP news release said registering a bike creates a direct link between the owner and the bicycle — making recovery easier if it is stolen.
The registration is free and takes only a few minutes to complete.
