Each year, around 3,000 bikes are reported stolen in Winnipeg. It’s frustrating, it’s costly and for many, it means losing a main mode of transportation.
While Winnipeg Police officers actively pursue bike thieves, bike theft prevention starts with the bike owner. The harder you can make it for someone to steal your bike, the less likely a thief will target it.
Make your bike a tough target
Taking a few simple steps can go a long way in protecting your ride. That includes registering your bike with 529 Garage, an easy and free way to register your bike.
Registering your bike helps deter theft and improves your chances of getting it back if it’s ever stolen.
Officers can search the registry on the spot, anywhere in the city, and identify bikes that have been reported stolen.
Bike data registered with 529 Garage is accessible by jurisdictions across the world. We will access users' contact information from 529 Garage when attempting to return recovered bikes.
You can also purchase an optional shield decal directly from 529 Garage to let potential thieves know your bike is registered.
What to do if your bike is stolen
If your registered bicycle has been stolen, set an alert on 529 Garage and report it to the police by either:
- Calling the non-emergency report line at 204-986-6222 or visiting Police Headquarters at (245 Smith St.).
- reporting it online
Before making your report, have your bike's serial number and any unique marks or engravings (unique to that individual bike, not a group of bikes) that will aid in matching your report to the bikes found.
Tips to help prevent bike theft
While the 529 Garage stickers may act as a deterrent and the easy-to-use registry facilitates the quick return of bikes to their rightful owners, there are still steps you can take to deter bike theft in the first place.
- Always lock your bicycle when not in use by placing a chain or cable through both wheels and the frame.
- Use a quality bike lock like a U-lock, thick chain lock, or a folding lock. These are excellent deterrents to would-be thieves.
- Use a cable lock in combination with a quality bike lock whenever possible. Secure your wheels to the frame with the cable lock to prevent your wheels from getting stolen.
- Ensure your lock is attached to your bike frame and not just through your wheel, as a thief will simply remove your wheel and walk off with the bike.
- Use a proper bicycle rack whenever possible and keep your lock away from the ground.
- Choose a fixed, immovable object that's not easily broken when locking your bike. A bike is only as secure as the object it is locked to.
- Remove any parts that detach from your bike, like your seat, lights, or bike bag.
- Keep your bike locked and out of sight when storing it at home.
We all have a role to play in crime prevention.
Have a great summer and ride safe!
Note: 529 Garage is a third-party service provider. The City of Winnipeg is not affiliated with 529 Garage in any way, nor is the City responsible for any data collected by 529 Garage. Participation is voluntary, and users should fully review all applicable terms of service prior to enrollment.