Penticton bicycle thefts highest in five years

PENTICTON – Penticton bicycle thefts continued unabated last week and statistics show more have been stolen so far this year compared to the same time period in the past five years.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says two bikes were stolen overnight on July 27 from a Hayward Street residence, and on July 28 mountain bikes disappeared from home on Atkinson Street and from a Okanagan Falls residence.

Ovenight on July 30, two mountain bikes were taken from the back of a vehicle parked at the Penticton Best Western and on July 31 a bike disappeared from a rack near the theatre after someone cut the lock.

Community policing coordinator Rick Dellebuur recently presented bicycle theft statistics from Penticton crime analyst Rachel Linklater.

The statistics, which go back to 2012, show this year’s thefts have been rising steadily since the early months of the year, as opposed to spiking and falling, as has been the trend in the past.

Statistics also show July 2014 was the worst month for bike theft in the past five years, with a total of 37 bikes stolen.

However, on a year to date basis, more bikes have been stolen this year than any year since 2012.

Here is the breakdown from January to July for each year:

2012 – 34 bikes stolen
2013 – 92 bikes stolen
2014 – 81 bikes stolen
2015 – 50 bikes stolen
2016 – 93 bikes stolen

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