The growing popularity of the group, called Stolen Bicycle Avengers, shows just how big a problem bike theft is in Victoria, says its administrator
The self-employed gardener is driving around Victoria when she notices a man riding a matte black bike. A couple of tiny patches of bright green peek out from under the black on the bike’s frame.
That unattended road bike she saw on Pandora Green was stolen. Wakefield found the owner with the help of a Facebook group designed for this exact purpose — to get more eyes on the street looking for your stolen bike. She got in touch, and the bike was returned to its owner. “Everyone knows someone who has had a bike stolen, if they haven’t experienced it personally,” she said.
Through the page, Wakefield — a lover of true crime who also volunteers to look for lost dogs — has reunited three people with their stolen bikes. The bikes she has found have been in these hot spots, often with someone who is unhoused. But the person in possession of a stolen bike might not even realize it’s stolen.
When a bike is reported stolen to VicPD and the serial number is provided, the information is uploaded into a database called the Canadian Police Information Centre, where any police officer in the country can query a serial number on a found bike. From time to time, VicPD leaves bait bikes installed with a GPS tracker in areas where bike thieves tend to operate, which often leads to an arrest of a prolific offender, Healy said.
But if it’s reported to police, officers will be aware of a stolen bike, and might come across it while on patrol. If it’s known to be stolen, officers can seize the bike. “We can’t take people’s liberties away and start seizing things without legal authority,” Healy said. Nearly one-quarter of the 4,564 stolen bikes reported to police over the last five years from 2016 to 2022 were returned to their owners.
She quickly pulled over, and watched in her rearview mirror as a man tinkered with the bike. The distinctive bright blue paint on the bike’s rims had been mostly sanded off but she recognized it as hers. Sadler called police, who were there within a few minutes. Officers quickly verified the bike was hers and let her take it away.
After receiving a message from someone in the Avengers Facebook group that the bike was spotted downtown, Hofmann headed down there, checking out the hot spots, but wasn’t able to find it.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
40 Of The Best (Or Is That The Worst?) Dad Jokes Served By This Facebook Page40 Of The Best (Or Is That The Worst?) Dad Jokes Served By This Facebook Page dadjokes puns
Lire la suite »
Meta rolls out paid verification option for Facebook and Instagram users in U.S.Facebook and Instagram users in the United States will soon be able to pay to get a coveted blue check on their account.
Lire la suite »
Donald Trump returns to Facebook, posts for first time since 2-year ban liftedFormer U.S. President Donald Trump posted to Facebook on Friday, marking his return to the platform two years after he was banned.
Lire la suite »
Trump returns to Facebook, posts for first time since 2-year ban liftedFormer U.S. President Donald Trump posted to Facebook on Friday, marking his return to the platform two years after he was banned.
Lire la suite »
Trump returns to YouTube and Facebook after two-year banTrump returns to Twitter, has YouTube channel reinstated after two-year ban
Lire la suite »
'I'M BACK!': Trump returns to Facebook after reinstatementFormer President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban.
Lire la suite »