NORTH Vancouver RCMP arrested two suspects on November 5 for theft in relation to a stolen bike in an underground parkade in the 100-block of West Esplanade Avenue.

A victim of a bicycle theft called police after he was able to map the location of his stolen bike using a GPS locator tag. The bike, which had been stolen earlier in the day from an underground parkade, was in the area of the 100-block of West Esplanade Avenue. The victim went to the parkade and waited for police to arrive.

When officers arrived at the location, they encountered two men associated to a vehicle with several bikes in the back. The victim claimed one of the bikes was his. When officers attempted to arrest the suspects, one of the suspects ran, initiating a foot pursuit. The suspect was arrested a short distance away.

“Investigators moved quickly to apprehend the suspects in the investigation,” said Constbale Mansoor Sahak. “The suspects were both known to police and have no fixed addresses. As a result of the investigation, officers were also able to seize several other items of what are believed to be stolen property.”

Some tips for bike owners

* If you are leaving your bike in or attached to your vehicle, lock it to your vehicle (high-end mountain bikes are often stolen from the back of a pick-up truck or vehicle in large parking areas such as malls while the owner is running a short errand)
* Choose appropriate places to park; well-lit areas with good visibility are best
* Do not leave your bike on or in your vehicle overnight, even in secure underground parking lots (secure underground parking lots are a popular stalking ground for bike thieves)
* If you are required to store your bike in a designated area, such as a bike locker, use two different, high quality locks and remove the seat