News release

Police recover high-end stolen mountain bike

August 21, 2025 - Nanaimo, British Columbia
From: Nanaimo RCMP

Content

A German tourist is thanking his lucky stars after his $10,000 mountain bike was recovered within hours of it being stolen from his vehicle. The adult man arrived in Nanaimo on July 29, 2025, for week of biking and travelling throughout Vancouver Island.  He told police he has made the trip from his country around ten times and has never had an issue before.

Arriving late, he decided to forgo a hotel, and parked near the Centennial building in Beban Park. Before retiring for the night, he left his bike outside his vehicle with the front wheel off and the frame locked to his roof rack by a cable lock.

When he woke, the bike was gone.  The complainant wasted no time and headed to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment to report the theft. He also provided a picture of his bike. The theft was handed over to officers assigned to the Special Investigations/Targeted Enforcement Team (SITE).  Within two hours, this dedicated team of officers had recovered the bike and returned it to an extremely grateful owner. The complainant then carried on his way exploring and biking throughout Vancouver Island. No suspects have been identified, and the investigation continues.

“In recent months, Nanaimo has seen an increase in thefts of expensive mountain bikes. If your bike is not secured with a relatively secure lock, experienced bike thieves, using bolt cutters and angle grinders will easily defeat a lock within minutes. “Said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

“Locks can be expensive but if it prevents your bike from being stolen, it is worth the expenditure. The best advice is to do some research on what lock works for you and your budget or drop into a local bike shop and speak to one of their employees, “said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

Generally, U-locks, heavy duty chain locks, folding locks and cable locks are considered effective for deterring bike thefts. 

The following tips are provided to assist in reducing your chances of having your bike stolen

• Always lock your bike
• Choose a location where your bike is visible to the public
• Use multiple locks if possible
• Remove accessories- these attract unwanted attention from bike thieves
• Register your bike with 529 Garage
• Consider a GPS tracker
• Never leave your bike unattended for extended periods of time
• Bike thieves often strike in early morning and late at night- be vigilant and especially during those times