The Regina Police Services is encouraging bicycle owners of all ages to take advantage of a free online registry to help address the issue of bike theft in our community. The public is invited to the Glen Elm Library on Friday, September 20, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a free bike registration event.
Like most other North American cities and towns, Regina has a bike theft problem; Regina’s bicycle thefts are showing an increase over recent years:
Reported bike thefts | Jan – Aug | Jan – Dec (full year) |
2019 | 922 | – |
2018 | 784 | 1081 |
2017 | 581 | 840 |
2016 | 493 | 648 |
2015 | 530 | 762 |
2014 | 327 | 467 |
2013 | 440 | 588 |
Project 529 is a free online registry that pulls together bicycle owners, universities, bike shops, advocates and police on a single platform where owners register their bicycles. A decal can help deter a theft, but even if the bike is stolen, the owner can report the theft and, in their investigation, police have access to the serial number and other identifying information through the database. In addition, the owner can immediately activate an alert that is shared with a community of bike owners who can help be the “eyes and ears” in the community and report any sightings to police. Police recover stolen bikes and abandoned bikes on an almost-daily basis. Many of these bikes are never reunited with their owners because the serial numbers are not recorded.
The Regina Police Service encourages members of the public to take advantage of Project 529, a free online registry for bicycle owners. The public is invited to the Glen Elm Library on Friday, September 20, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To learn more about this program, visit www.project529.com .