Bike Rack2
Hamilton Police were made aware of a possible bike ‘Chop Shop’ operating out of an encampment located at the intersection of Main Street and King Street East, commonly referred to as the Delta. Citizens reported there were numerous bicycles believed to be stolen.
Officers responded to the area and determined that the bicycles did not belong to encampment residents. While in the area, a citizen reported that someone had stolen the steel bicycle rack from a nearby McDonald’s parking lot the night before. Officers went to McDonald’s to return the bike rack and discovered that CCTV footage captured the theft. Police have identified the male responsible for the theft.
A 50-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with:
- Theft Under $5000
- Fail to Comply with Probation
Police seized eight bicycles from the location. Some of the bikes had been painted and/or dismantled, making identification of the bicycle owners difficult. Police would like to remind community members that the best way to ensure your property can be returned to you is to register bicycles through our online bike registry.
On average, 450 bicycles are stolen in Hamilton every year, and only four per cent are recovered. Only 30 per cent of recovered bicycles are returned to their owner because police often have a hard time matching the bicycle to its owner.
Bicycle owners should use a good-quality locking device to help deter thieves and file a police report if their bicycle is stolen. For more information on how to register your bike or learn more about the bike registry program, visit online at https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/how-to/register-my-bike.