RCMP roll out app to help protect bikes in Prince George
With dramatic rise in bike theft, police in Prince George turn to tech company for help
As bicycle theft continues to rise, RCMP in Prince George are partnering with a Portland, Oregon tech company to help cyclists register and recover their bikes.
Project 529 Garage is an online registry that allows bike owners to upload a picture of their bicycle, along with its make, model, serial number, and other distinguishing features.
If the bike is stolen, users simply type in the information to see whether the bike has been spotted or recovered.
They can also send out a bulletin to other users to keep an eye out for the missing bike.
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Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass says there has been a dramatic rise in bike thefts over the past three years, up 83.3 per cent in the first five months of 2016 compared to the same time period in 2013.
He hopes the partnership with Project 529 will increase the number of reports as more people record information about their bike's make, year and serial number.
"This powerful technology is easy to use and ensures the bike owner has stored all relevant and important information about their bike that the police need in the event of a theft."
Police will be at community events through the summer and fall helping bike owners upload their information to Project 529.
Douglass says his goal is to have "thousands" of bikes registered by winter.
Project 529 has previously been launched in Vancouver and Surrey.
Listen to Prince George residents share stories of their stolen bikes:
Listen to an interview with Project 529 founder J Allard:
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