Combating bike theft in Winnipeg

Released: June 3, 2024 at 1:11 p.m.
Register, report, recover

Did you know that as many as 3,000 bikes are reported stolen each year in Winnipeg? 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. 

That's why we are encouraged by the introduction of 529 Garage in Winnipeg, an easy and free way to register your bike.

Less searching, more finding

This new system empowers our officers to:

  • Conduct on-the-street registry searches at any time and from any location.
  • Return registered bikes to their rightful owners.

two people holding up a bike that has been recovered

 

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 if my bike has been stolen?

If your registered bicycle has been stolen, set an alert on 529 Garage and report it to the police by either:

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.

Preventing 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.

Don't make it easy for thieves to steal your bike:

  • 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.

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