Squamish RCMP this week issued a strongly worded warning to home and bike owners in response to a recent rash of bike thefts, with a number of those incidents having occurred in Garibaldi Highlands.
At least two of the incidents reported during the past week occurred in the Jay Crescent/Condor Place area, where police reported two similar incidents the previous week.
"The Squamish RCMP again advise the public to ensure their homes and garages are secured, record all serial numbers, use good-quality locks for their bikes, take good-quality photos of bikes and any upgrades, and consider engravings to further assist in the recovery of any stolen property," RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in a statement.
Sometime between Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 28 and 29), a Specialized Stump Jumper 21-speed mountain bike was stolen from an "insecure" garage in the 2000 block of Jay Crescent, Pride said. The complainant reported that another bike, a Specialized Hardrock Sport bike, was left in the yard. Police seized the bike, which they believe was stolen in another break-and-enter.
On Saturday (Oct. 1) at around 2 p.m., police attended after having received a report of suspicious males in the area of 2400 Mamquam Road removing bikes from a vehicle and taking them apart.
Police located four males, whom they described as "known to police," with a number of bikes, bike parts and tools. One of the bikes was one that was reported stolen earlier in the day. A 19-year-old Squamish male was arrested for possession of the stolen bike. He was also the subject of an outstanding warrant for breach of probation, Pride said.
On Monday (Oct. 3), police received a report of a burglary having occurred in the 1000 block of Condor Place between 10 p.m. the previous night and Monday at 7 a.m. Police believe a garage door opener was taken from an unlocked vehicle and used to access the garage.
Stolen were four high-end mountain bikes: a red-and-white Specialized S-Works Epic, a black-and-red Specialized Stump Jumper, a silver-and-blue 2009 Norco Team DH and a silver Satte Razo 29'er. A neighbour reported having seen a suspicious van in the area at around 4:30 a.m., Pride said.
Finally, on Tuesday (Oct. 4), police were informed of the theft of two mountain bikes from a vehicle in the 1100 block of Plateau Crescent in Valleycliffe sometime between Monday at 10 a.m. and Tuesday at 6 a.m. The bikes had been locked on a rack mounted to a vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of the home.
Stolen were a pair of Trek Session bikes, including a black-and-white, 2010 Trek Session 88 and a black-and-white 2011 Session 8 with Fox 40 Shox.
Anyone with information about these or any crimes is asked to phone Squamish RCMP at (604) 892-6100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Man arrested
On Friday (Sept. 30), police responded to a report of people yelling and possibly fighting at a home in the 38000 block of Harbour View Place, near Highway 99. A 34-year-old Squamish man and a female "known to him" had apparently become involved in an argument that police allege escalated into an assault. The man was arrested and is facing charges, Pride said.
