Hamilton police have arrested a 50-year-old man after investigating a possible bike “chop shop” operation on Main Street and King Street East.
Officers say they became aware of a possible bicycle operation out of an encampment at the downtown intersection locally referred to as the “Delta”.
The department says they received multiple reports of stolen bicycles being brought to area.
During an investigation in the area, officers received a report of a steel bicycle rack being stolen from the nearby McDonalds’s parking lot.
Detectives arrested the 50-year-old and have charged him with theft under $5,000 and for failing to comply with probation.
Investigators seized eight bicycles from the area, noting that some of the bikes had been painted or dismantled, making it potentially difficult for the bike’s owners to identify their stolen property.
Police say on average 450 bicycles are stolen in Hamilton each year with only four per cent recovered, and 30 per cent of those recovered return to their owners. The department suggests residents to register their bikes on their online registry to help link any recovered bikes to their owners more quickly.
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