In the 10 years that police have been keeping track, it's estimated 50,000 bicycles have gone missing in Toronto.
The number is shocking, though not to those who ride often. Police say roughly 4,600 bikes have been stolen this year alone, and that doesn't include the thousands of thefts that go unreported. Some guesstimate the real figure is closer to 12,000.
And that number will likely only grow in the age of constantly rising gas prices.
"We do recover a lot of bicycles and the challenge for us becomes getting them back to the proper owners," said Toronto Police Const. Scott Mills. "And if it's not reported, we can't find it."
Experts say one of the best ways to protect your bike is to simply double up on locks.
"Most crooks walk with one tool," explained Mike Wilson of Mike's Bikes. "If you have two devices of different styles then they'll probably go past your bike."
And cops think the crime will become less popular if more people register their bikes, something that the force has recently made doing easier than ever before.
"(Police) Chief (Bill) Blair, it's his baby," Const. Mills said. "He wants the public to have the confidence to leave their bicycle and go and do their business and come back and it will be there."
You can now register your bike online with Toronto Police by
clicking here.
- Have you had one or more bikes stolen in the city? Tell us your story. Send an email to
news@citynews.ca with the subject line "bike theft".
And here are some tips on how to prevent the same thing from happening to your bike:
- Register your bicycle with the police;
- Use a good quality locking device such as a hardened steel "U" shaped lock, or a hardened steel chain and padlock;
- Lock your bicycle and both wheels to an immovable object which cannot be easily cut or broken.
Click here for the online Toronto Police bike registration form.
Here are some more tips:
- Always ensure that your bicycle is locked properly and completely
- Always lock your bike, regardless of how long you step away or its cost
- Don't leave valuables in your bike bag
- Don't leave a bike unlocked!
- Don't leave your bike locked in a rack overnight or over winter months
- Don't leave your bike unattended, even for a second
- Do not hide your bike in the bushes. Thieves know where to look.
- Do not let people you don't know ride your bike. They may not come back
- Fasten locks tightly--don't leave room for crowbars to slide through
- Identify and mark you bike. Engrave, tape, paint and other means are helpful ways to personalize your bike and keep a photo of your bike on record
- If you use a regular padlock, purchase one with a 7/16" shank, the largest size that will fit a campus bike rack
- If your bicycle is at home, keep it in a locked garage, basement or room, not in the yard or driveway
- Insure your bike. Check your homeowner's policy to see if coverage is included
- Keep a record of your original purchase receipts and bike serial numbers
- Lock your bicycle by placing a chain or cable through both wheels, the frame and attaching it to a stationary object
- Lock your bike to a fixed, immovable object such as a bike rack
- Only lock your bike to approved racks, not trees, signposts or rails
- Remember to also lock parts attached with quick-release mechanisms
- Remember: the newer the bike, the more desirable to thieves
- Select a location where there are other bikes
- Spend at least 10% of the cost of your bike on security. Consider how much it will cost to replace your bike when deciding how much you can afford to spend protecting your bike
- Take your bike seat with you if you have a quick release seat
- Try to use a bike rack that is in a well-lit or well-traveled area
- Use a hardened steel U-type lock - also consider using anti-pry devices
- Above all, don't fight back if someone tries to take your bike. Instead, remember what the thief looks like and the direction he/she went.