RCMP in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton last week launched a "bait bike" program that aims to put the brakes on bike thieves in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Sea to Sky Free Ride (S2S Free Ride) will see police deploy special bikes that, if stolen, will allow RCMP officers to track and locate both the bikes and the thieves, Whistler RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton said in a statement issued last Wednesday (July 17).
"Bike thieves in the Sea to Sky Corridor may soon be in for a surprise thanks to a new anti-theft program being introduced by the RCMP," Squamish RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in an email to The Chief.
Bike thefts have steadily increased over the past few years "to the point where we, as police, had to try a new approach to stop it," Knapton said.
Police urged bike owners to take precautions to help avoid becoming victims of bike theft. They include locking your bike no matter how long you're leaving it for, and to remove the seat or a wheel as an added deterrent. As well, those required to store bikes in underground parking lots should consider multiple locking devices, and everyone should record bike descriptions, including serial numbers and any component modifications, to help identify the bike if it's stolen.
Assault probed
On Saturday (July 20) at around 3:41 a.m., police responded to a report of a group of males fighting at Diamond Road and Diamond Head Road. At the scene, officers located a young man who claimed he had been attacked when he intervened in a fight involving three males beating up another. The alleged victim said he had been hit with a shovel before his attackers fled. Police arrested a Squamish male, age 18, who was hiding nearby, in connection with the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
Man injured
On Wednesday (July 17), police responding to a report of a fight at a pub in Valleycliffe located a 39-year-old Squamish man who had been assaulted. He was taken to Squamish General Hospital with minor injuries. Witnesses said a large group of people had gathered outside the pub and a fight ensued, Pride said. Police described the suspect as a dark-skinned male, less than 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing a dark T-shirt, jeans and short black hair. He was accompanied by a female with long blonde hair. The investigation is ongoing, but according to Pride, the victim "is not co-operating with police."
Items stolen
On Tuesday (July 16), police received a report of two vehicles having been broken into overnight while parked in the 1100 block of Plateau Crescent. Stolen from the unlocked vehicles were a $250 pair or Versache sunglasses and approximately $35 in cash.
Vehicle stolen
On Saturday (July 20), police received a report of a 1998 green Toyota Tercel having been stolen from Magee Road and Squamish Valley Forest Service Road sometime between Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. The owner was camping in the area when the car was stolen. Inside the vehicle were a wallet, a passport and some clothing.
Bike stolen
On Monday (July 22), police received a report of a bike having been stolenovernight while locked to a railing outside the Squamish Adventure Centre. The bike was a blue Kona Joe Murray.
