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What would a systematic response to bike thievery look like?
So what (aside from better locks!) would a systematic response to bike thievery look like? For starters, bike owners should register their serial numbers on sites such as Project529.com and BikeIndex.org. Read on
Your questions about bike theft answered by a bike detective
I'm posing the most commonly asked questions to one of the guys behind the Vancouver program, Rob Brunt, a former Vancouver police detective who now works with Project 529, and is probably the most knowledgeable (former) cop in North America about bike theft. Read on
Bike returned thanks to 529 Garage
Just three weeks after the free 529 Garage bike registration service was launched by Canterbury Police and Christchurch City Council, a bike flagged as stolen was reunited with its owner. Read on
Christchurch cyclists quick to sign-up for anti-theft register
As more people opt for two wheels to get around, bike thefts are also climbing, with more than four per day on average reported stolen in Christchurch. The city is the latest to adopt a community bike register, with more than 1200 cyclists signing up in the three weeks since it began. Read on
Beat the Bike Thieves; Love it, Lock it, Log it
Bike Auckland have chosen 529 Garage, which has shown success overseas, as our champion to tackle bike theft. Read on to learn more about why we chose it, and other ways that you can keep your bike safe. Read on
Meet Canada’s only full-time bike theft detective
When the initiative launched in October 2015, Vancouver had already reported approximately 2,800 bike thefts that year. By 2019, the number had dropped by 39 per cent. Brunt lists the cities from which recovered bikes were stolen—Ottawa, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Portland, Seattle. Read on
New app to deter bicycle theft now available in Kingston
“Each year, more than 200 bicycles come into police custody. However, since many of them are not registered, they are often not able to be returned to their rightful owners,” said Kingston Chief of Police Antje McNeely. “529 Garage offers residents a simple way to register their bicycles and discourage bicycle theft in our community.” Read on
I got my stolen bike back. In Toronto, most others aren’t so lucky
“As a city (Toronto) has invested a lot of money in Bike Share and in expanding the bike lane network,” Wong-Tam says. “I hate to think we’re now losing people from getting into those bike lanes because they’ve lost their bikes.” Read on
A bike stolen in Manitoba resurfaced in B.C. It's more common than you think
Const. Rob Brunt, the Vancouver Police Department's bike detective — and the only bike detective in Canada — said he's seen an escalation in cases where bikes are quickly moved to another city, sometimes within hours of being stolen. Read on
$45,000 in stolen bikes recovered in Vancouver; police hoping to return them to owners
"This was a lengthy and complex investigation that was led by our front-line patrol officers, who learned several weeks ago that stolen bikes were allegedly being trafficked out of a self-storage facility in East Vancouver," Sgt. Steve Addison said in the news release. Read on
The SPVG acquires a new tool to counter bicycle theft
"When we talk about crime prevention, one of the best tools is the eyes and ears of our population because, if we can patrol and intervene, we unfortunately cannot be everywhere at the same time", said Andrée East, spokesperson for the SPVG. Read on
Local community bike watch helps return stolen bicycle
"I had my bike locked up in the garden shed and one day I went out to find it and the lock was jimmied and the bike was gone. Having 529 and the record of it, allowed me to make the police report that and allow them to identify it and get it back.” says Jefflyn. Read on
Don’t let organized crime steal your bike this summer
Brunt notes: “Unlike your car, bikes don’t have vehicle identification numbers or a standardized serial number system across the cycling industry. Project 529 fills that gap. You can record your bike information on the Project 529 app for free to help us return your recovered stolen bike to you. But it only works if cyclists provide their bike information in advance. That’s what we’re urging all cyclists to do now as summer kicks off.” Read on
PROJECT 529 WORKS, PLUS TIPS TO PREVENT BIKE THEFT
“Since the inception of the Project 529 bicycle registration program, over 600 bicycles have been registered regionally,” Lieutenant Ryan Eaton of CPD said. Read on
Stolen bike in Moncton? There's a new app for that
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold, an avid cyclist herself, says the problem in the city isn’t new. “We’ve heard consistently from citizens that they were concerned about bike theft in our community,” says Arnold. Read on
Codiac RCMP has found a new way to help crackdown on bicycle theft.
“Many people who report their bikes lost or stolen don’t have the bicycle serial number documented,” said Constable Christy Elliott, a member with the Codiac Regional RCMP Community Policing Unit. “The 529 Garage app is a simple way to register your bike with the serial number and upload pictures. When someone buys a used bike, they can also confirm it’s legitimately owned by the person selling it.” Read on
Codiac Regional RCMP partners with 529 Garage to fight bicycle theft
"Many people who report their bikes lost or stolen don't have the bicycle serial number documented," said Cst. Christy Elliott, a member with the Codiac Regional RCMP Community Policing Unit. "The 529 Garage app is a simple way to register your bike with the serial number and upload pictures. When someone buys a used bike, they can also confirm it's legitimately owned by the person selling it." Read on
Stolen bikes found in Vancouver returned to Burnaby 11-year-old and Edmonton man
“Vancouver Police, the Vancouver Police Foundation and the City of Vancouver Greenest City initiative have teamed up with Project 529 to spearhead a BC bike registration and recovery program. Today, more than 70,000 bicycles have been registered in Vancouver, and bike theft is on the decline,” a release on bike thefts reads. Read on
Project Handlebar – Ottawa's frontline officers recovering stolen bikes
“We are really invested in this,” said Cst. Richard Zulys “we often chip away at recovering these bikes when we are not out on active calls.” The officers use 529 Garage, a bicycle registration app, along with other investigative tools to help identify stolen bicycles. They credit the app with making it easier and faster to get them back to their owners if they have already registered with the program. “That’s important, you need to register ahead of time in order for the app to help us help you,” said Cst. Samson Vo. Read on
SPVM partners with Garage 529 database to help prevent bike thefts
“We’re talking about 2000 bike thefts a year but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. And we’ve all had a bike stolen. And the problem is if you get your bike stolen once or twice you might not get a third one,” said Velo Quebec program director Magali Bebronne. Read on
SPVM joins Garage 529 to fight bicycle theft in Montreal
"All police officers who know Garage 529 appreciate its ease of use and its effectiveness in the fight against bicycle theft. This platform will not only provide us with valuable information for our investigations, but it will also help us return the stolen bikes to their rightful owner when we find them," says Commander Steve Girard, Ward 44 chief of bike theft at the SPVM. Read on
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) became the first police force in the province to join the app's network this week.
"The cities where the app is available did not take long to get surprising results. The City of Vancouver registered a decrease of almost 40 per cent in bike thefts since the arrival of 529 Garage in 2015," the SPVM stated. Read on
Montreal police, Vélo Québec call on cyclists to download app aimed at preventing bike thefts
"We're really trying to find ways to make bike theft a problem of the past," said Magali Bebronne, program director at Vélo Québec. Read on
Bike theft: technology to protect cyclists
“We also aim to reduce the number of bicycle thefts from 30% to 40% in five years,” said an elected spokesman for Project Montreal. But it works according to membership, so we hope more cyclists will join." Read on
Hermosa Beach police target bike thefts with initiative
“Our goal is to make Hermosa Beach a much safer place to own and ride a bicycle,” said HBPD Chief Paul LeBaron. Read on
Bike registration program aims to curb HBPD stolen bike auctions
"Owners often don’t report bicycle thefts, so we have no way of proving a bicycle is stolen if it’s found, and no way of knowing where to return a stolen bicycle when we recover it,” said HBPD Lieutenant Dorothy Scheid. Read on
Redcliff RCMP sign on to ‘community watch for your bike’
“If it ever goes missing or is stolen we have access to be able to see that bike so we can look up the person and their bike and we’ll have all the information that we need in order to help locate it,” explains Const. Eric Lankin. “And if we do locate the bike we have the person’s information so we can reunite the bike with that person.” Read on
Victoria police ask people to register bikes with new app
“By moving away from a VicPD-supported bike registry, this will allow the department to reinvest our resources into other high-demand areas,” VicPD said in a statement. Read on
Victoria residents can now register their bikes through new police app
"The transition to Project 529 is a 'win-win' for the community and the police," said VicPD. Read on
VicPD transitions bicycle registry to Project 529 Garage app
“[The app] is much easier to use than VicPD’s process was", said GVCC volunteer Todd Kalyniuk in an interview with Victoria Buzz. Read on
Bike thefts down 40% in Vancouver since 2015
"The best we can do is hope for a serial number [on the bike]," said Brunt. But most cyclists don't know their serial number, which makes it "nearly impossible" to return stolen bicycles to their owners. Read on
‘I knew right away that that was the bike’: B.C. man helps track down stolen ride on transit bus
The Vancouver Police Department said it’s seen a decrease in bike thefts compared to last year. The number of bicycles reported stolen last May and June was down 42 per cent over the same time in 2019. Read on
Cycling-friendly cities scramble to combat rising bike thefts
"The bad guys are better organized than the good guys," said J Allard, creator of Project 529, a bike registry and theft reporting tool. "The thieves know they have many things working in their favor." Read on
Campus bicycle culture encouraged by programs, resources
“If they register their bicycles here, they’re here for four years then they’re gone,” he said. “If their bicycle is registered in the national system their bicycle will be protected wherever they go.” Read on
Bike thefts down 36 percent in Red Deer
“The value of 529 Garage, tamper-resistant decals shouldn’t be understated,” says Somer. “When a would-be thief sees the shield, they know it is registered and therefore not an easy target.” Read on
'Community-powered' system reunites Londoner with long-gone bike
“This is a community-powered solution to bike theft,” said London police Const. Carl Noel. Read on
'Hot Wheels' initiative and the 529 Garage program boosted the recovery rate of stolen bicycles in Ottawa by 30 per cent this year
“Close to 6,000 bikes have been registered to date and, of the 154 bikes that have been reported stolen, 39 per cent have been returned to the rightful owner.” Read on
Bike thefts are increasing in Canada: Here's what you can do to protect your bike
“Our belief would be that the increase in bike theft is more a function of increased supply and demand,” Allard says. “There are more people riding, more bikes being parked and more people looking to buy used bikes. In general all good trends for cycling, but all serve to also fuel thefts.” Read on
Bike Thefts Are on the Rise. Here’s How to Fight Back
“I’m the humble tool maker,” Allard said. “The real power of the system comes from people coming together.” Read on
Police turning to social media and 529 Garage to track down stolen bikes
"It's a very quick way for our officers to identify bicycles as having been stolen, and often it's easy for the citizen, if they're already on the application, to [report their bike] stolen. It's a simple click," said Zulys. Read on
Bike thefts continue to plague Moab area
“Project 529 moving forward will be heavily utilized by the Moab City Police Department in tracking, and documenting bicycles stolen in our area,” read the Oct. 21 MPD Facebook post. Read on
Bike thefts spike across U.S. as cycling becomes more popular
Allard recommends that riders register their bikes, like they would a car, by taking photographs and recording the bike's serial number and other unique characteristics through an app. "That way, if your bike gets ripped off and you call the police, you have all of the info you need," he said. Read on
Bike Thefts Are Up 27% in Pandemic N.Y.C.
Stolen bike figures are likely an undercount since only one in five bike thefts are reported to the police, according to 529 Garage. Read on
Police putting brakes on bike thefts in Guelph with help of app
Dewar said the number of thefts has slowly decreased since 2019, when the force started using an app called 529 Garage. Owners can enter details like their bike's serial numbers into a national database, which can then be shared with police. Read on
Prince George RCMP, Nechako Rotary teaming up for 529 Garage Great Big Bike Registry
“The Prince George RCMP is excited to partner with the Nechako Rotary Club to help end bike theft in our community,” Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass says in a release. Read on
Delta Police Department re-launches Garage 529 bike program
“I looked back at 2019 and looked back during this period from last year to this year and for this summer compared to last summer we have fewer thefts than we did last year,” said DPD spokesperson Cris Leykauf. “July 2020 was significantly down compared to last year, however, we do seem to be ahead of where we were in August from last year. Also these are also the ones that have been reported to police and we know there are people who don’t necessarily report things such as bike theft.” Read on
Nanaimo RCMP say increase in cycling opens up potential for more bike thefts
“Many people are looking for fun activities that get people outside while still following provincial health recommendations. Cycling is a great way to do this,” the release noted, adding that more bikes on the trails and roads, however, means “more opportunities for bike thieves.” Read on
New Bike Registration Program at University of Illinois
Joining the database will help riders to easily and securely register their bikes. The system also provides the capacity to broadcast a “Missing Bike Bulletin” to the 529 community and social networks that will enable identification and recovery of stolen bikes. Read on
London police call first bicycle registry a ‘success’; two bikes recovered in one weekend
“The initiation for a bicycle registry for the whole city (saw) a couple of success stories in the last five months.” Read on
More than 200 bikes registered with 529 Garage over the weekend
“We are finding that a good portion of the bikes that are stolen…the serial numbers were never recorded.”–Cpl. Craig Douglass, spokesperson, Prince George RCMP Read on
Police recover 30 stolen bicycles at area 'chop shops'
Almost 5,000 bicycles have already been registered, according to police, and in the past two weeks five registered bikes have been recovered and returned to their owners. Read on
Baton Rouge Police Department partners with Project 529 to help recover stolen bikes
“I can’t tell you the number of customers who come in and say their bikes were stolen,” LaFont said. “They’re just heartbroken because that was their car; that was how they got from A to B.” Read on
WashU in St. Louis Now Offers Free Bike Registration through Project 529
One way WashU has recently reinforced its commitment to supporting bicycling is by rolling out a new bike registration program, through the 529 Garage, the industry’s first mobile-based bicycle registration system designed for college campuses. Read on
Missoula launches new bike registration program
“We know from people reporting their bikes lost or stolen that a majority of bike owners don’t have their serial number documented. The Project 529 app is a fantastic way to upload pictures of your actual bike – including aftermarket parts - while documenting the serial number, and it makes it easy for people in the community to verify a used bike they are buying hasn’t been reported stolen,” said Missoula Police Department Crime Prevention Officer Ethan Smith. Read on
Police in Canada's capital city use Project 529 as their official bike registration partner
“I was blown away by how much the community was excited about this. We hosted registration events and they would line up from start to finish,” he said. “We had to close down and the lineup was still there. It was embraced by the cycling community.” Read on
Inside an ex-Microsoft wunderkind's Canadian crusade to save your bike
"We need less congestion. We need less obesity. We need better mental health. We need more moments to slow down. We need sparks of joy from our childhood.” Read on
Hugs and smiles all around after stolen bike recovered
This a great story with an even better ending. Were not sure who was happier; Cst. Long or Cameryn. Either way, it was a win-win for both and another reminder of the importance of taking 5 minutes out of your day and registering your bikes at Project 529, said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. Read on
Vancouver police uncover massive bike theft ring near Oppenheimer Park
The volume of bikes, along with the coordinated effort to steal and store them, points to the work of an organized bike theft group, though Roed wouldn’t comment on that possibility. Read on
Project 529 bike registry system launches in Regina to combat bike theft
“It’s insane. Especially at the beginning of spring and then usually towards the end of summer, it’s like we get a call almost once a day where people lost their bikes and want to see if we have the serial number on file.” Read on
Bicycles are becoming a form of currency as thefts continue to rise: RCMP
RCMP continue to partner with the app Project 529 in Penticton as well as in Kamloops, Kelowna and Vernon. The app is billed as a "community watch" for your bike and registration, which is free, can be done from a smartphone. Read on
Regina police rolling out new tactic to prevent bike thefts
The Regina Police Service is tackling what it calls the rampant bike theft issue in the city through a new partnership with project529, an online registry and community aiming to lower bike theft statistics. Read on
Every 30 Seconds, One Bike Is Stolen. Here’s How to Fight Back
So it’s not necessarily the fault of police departments, as Allard said many assume. Instead, it’s hard to reunite bikes with their proper owners largely because people don’t know their serial number, don’t register their bike, and don’t report the theft to police. Read on
New Research Claims 2 Million Bikes Are Stolen in North America Every Year
Project 529 claims that 2 million bikes are stolen across North America every year. That works out at roughly 4 every minute or one every 15 seconds. They also claim this figure has doubled since the turn of the millennium. Read on
Bicycle theft surpasses 2 million a year in the USA
Cycling advocacy and registration programme 529 has worked in tandem with police, universities and bike shops to create a database from which it has reached these figures. The database, founded by former Microsoft executive J Allard, is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. Read on
Bike theft prevention program expands into Vernon
Bike thefts in the North Okanagan may become trickier for would-be criminals due in large part to a new partnership. The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP is partnering with Project 529 to use 529 Garage, as part of its bike theft prevention program. Read on
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP launch bike theft prevention program
“In the event a bike is stolen, 529 Garage assists police in efficiently returning stolen bikes to their rightful owners, consequently saving thousands of dollars in police resources and loss of product for B.C. citizens. The program can be accessed online and through a smartphone application.” Read on
529 Garage bike registry program gets new sponsor and more retailers where shield is available
“The response to the registry has been amazing,” said Project Coordinator Sergeant Art Wong. “We are delighted to have Safer Roads Ottawa on board; they have been a valued partner with Ottawa Police on multiple projects.” Read on
Ottawa police launch app to help people register bikes and report bike theft
“It’s a great way to connect with Ottawa’s cycling community and it encourages us to look out for each other. It’s also an effective way to help the police recover your bike quickly.” Read on
Ottawa police collaborate to launch bike registry and anti-theft app
"When you register your bike with 529 Garage, you not only protect your own bike, but you'll be part of a community working together to eliminate bike theft in Ottawa" Read on
Time to broaden the search for bike-theft solutions
In actual fact, the city’s bike registry is really more of a good idea trapped inside bad execution. The registry is neither popular nor effective and does not get at the heart of the issue. In other words, it does not serve as a deterrent to the tidal wave of bike thefts occurring in this community. Read on
Granville Island rolling out free valet service for cyclists
“The complimentary Bike Valet we sponsor each summer, and our partnerships with the VPD and Project 529, have been instrumental in decreasing bike theft and encouraging cycling on the Island.” Read on
Delight as Kelowna man's trike is returned thanks to intervention from member of the public
“It was great to see that the man who took it was willing to give up the bike. Some criminals still have a heart, I guess.” Read on
Project 529, Nice wheels.
Vancouver bike theft is now down an impressive 30 per cent. The program has ballooned to 35 municipalities and more than 100 bicycle shops throughout British Columbia; thefts have dropped a staggering 55 per cent in Whistler and 30 per cent in Richmond in the last year alone. Local bike registration has exceeded 70,000, and the database holds more than 800,000 searchable bikes worldwide. Read on
#EndBikeTheft: Our Action Plan
We're gearing up to tackle a serious problem in 2019. Recovery rates of stolen bikes are abysmal. We hear time and time again that theft is preventing people from riding. The current system isn’t working. Read on
529 Garage App Now Has the Largest Number of Registered Bikes in the World
The app 529 Garage, which debuted nearly three years ago as a joint pilot project by Vancouver police and avid cyclist and former Xbox developer J Allard to combat bike crime, has now become the world’s largest bicycle registration program with more than 800,000 searchable bikes. Read on
Bike registered in Prince George, stolen in Penticton, found in Vancouver
Count Remko Schrik among the believers in 529 Garage. Fast forward to a bit more than a year later and Schrik was visiting his wife's parents in Penticton when they became the victims of a heist on par with something an international jewel thief would pull off. Read on
VPD pilot project credited with 30 per cent drop in bicycle thefts
A joint initiative between the Vancouver Police Department, the City of Vancouver, and Project 529, has resulted in a 30 per cent drop in bike theft. Read on
Project 529 helps return almost one stolen bike a day in Vancouver
Luckily, Schrik registered his bike with Project 529. The Vancouver-based program is the largest of its kind in the world with a registry of 800,000 searchable bikes across the globe. Read on
Vancouver recognized as world leader in fighting bike thefts; thefts drop 30% in three years
Read on
Bike theft reports in Vancouver down 30 per cent in last three years. Police credit online bike registration system Project 529
“Vancouver is recognized as a world leader in targeting bike crime,” William Moose, consultant for the World Bank, said in a press release. “The World bank looked into Vancouver when researching the global best practices in fighting bike theft and used the services of one of VPD’s own and 529 to advise the City of Bogota on its bicycle security strategy.” Read on
App that slashed Vancouver bike thefts becomes a model for the world
The world of organized bike crime stretches from small-scale to large-scale, Chow said, noting some thieves use bicycles to commit other crimes, others may sell off bike parts, while organized groups may move costly bikes across borders. Read on
Project 529 helps position Vancouver as world leader in fighting bike theft
“Can you believe it?” Brunt said. “A street cop from Vancouver and an Xbox inventor have become the experts on bike thefts.” Read on
Bike thefts in Whistler down 57% this year, police say
“Even though we’ve seen the amazing change in statistics from two years ago to today, we are not giving up" Read on
Bait Bikes Deployed in Richmond
Project 529 is fast becoming the best way to register your bike and utilize technology to assist in its recovery should it ever become stolen. Read on
Granville Island Sees Massive drop in bike Thefts
“We are pleased that our teamwork has had such a positive effect on the Granville Island experience for our bike-riding visitors,” said Granville Island spokesperson Scott Fraser. “Our results have shown that by working together, we can make truly impactful positive change in our community.” Read on
Bike Thefts Down 30 per cent as Project 529 Reaches 22,000 Registrations in Vancouver
“I got the bike back within a week because they had all this information online,” Connell said. “It was … unreal. It was beyond belief.” Read on
'Bike theft is not inevitable': Vancouver rolls out a cycle crime revolution
“Cycling needs to be convenient, and there will always be some risk of theft, but what’s encouraging is they have demonstrated some very clear steps in reducing bike thefts,” Jane says. “This shows that theft is not inevitable in a bike-friendly city.” Read on
Anti-Bike Theft Program Returns to Prince George
“In the last year, the stats have gone down and we think it’s because of a large part of this program. The previous four-five years it was going up steadily. Bike theft has been taking off and unfortunately, it doesn’t get as much attention as serious crimes.” Read on
Bike theft in Vancouver drops 30% thanks to new app. Will other Canadian cities catch on?
“I came running back to Vancouver with the idea,” Brunt said. “Then in October 2015, we launched the app. We had a goal to register 10,000 bikes in three years. I thought that was brave and we would not come close.” Read on
The app helping BC police recover stolen bikes
"The system is far superior to what we use in our basic police databank, it's an awesome tool for us." Read on
Nanaimo RCMP promote registration with 529 Garage during Bike to Work and School Week
“529 Garage provides the public an avenue to participate in helping police reunite bikes with their owners. It is critical that people record details and take photos of their bikes so they have all the information in the event it does get stolen.” Read on
The Ultimate Guide to Ensuring That Your Bike Never Gets Stolen Again
“I estimate the bike-theft economy at a half-billion dollars per year. It’s a systemic problem.” Read on
Nanaimo woman gets her stolen bike back, thanks to smartphone app
“I’m thrilled to get my bike back. The process was so easy and the more people use it, the better it will be.” Read on
Bike registry services merge as Project 529 buys National Bike Registry
"We're very happy to pass the baton to the team at Project 529 to attack the bicycle theft epidemic," said Eddie Orton, who has sponsored the NBR effort for over two decades. "The passion and capabilities of the team at 529 will be able to take our work to the next level and better serve our customers and partners." Read on
Thieves be warned: Stolen bike recovery service expanding across B.C.
"When I registered, I was more worried about what would happen if my bike was stolen," Creasy said. "But I think it's a great way to encourage the cycling community to help each other and to get more eyes out there." Read on
David and Goliath: How a Tiny Organization is Taking On the Bike Theft Industry
“It’s a simple problem,” said Allard. “The cops aren’t sitting around with a parking lot full of cars going ‘hhmm I wonder whose Accord that is.’ With planes, cars, everything, they know exactly who it belongs to. With bikes, because there’s no compulsory registration, they have no way to get the bikes back to the owners.” Read on
New 529 Garage project hopes to decrease bike thefts in Vancouver
“In attacking the $500-million bike theft epidemic in North America, we felt it was vital to create more than a bike registration database,” said J. Allard, founder of Project 529. Read on
Project 529 Debuts Anti-Bike Theft App at Sea Otter
"We started with the idea of preventing bike theft because we wanted to do something that engaged the cycling community and would help solve a real problem. We have a long list of ideas that we want to bring to market, and this is just the first. We know we’re not going to solve theft one hundred percent, and we know that what can be solved won’t be done overnight, so we decided... let’s start now.” Read on
Bike thefts in Vancouver down 30% thanks to Project 529 registry, police say
"Today, Vancouver is recognized as the leader in addressing this epidemic, so much so that so that cities across North America are looking to the blueprint that's been established here to bring to their own cities," said Allard. Read on
Meet Project 529: A bike security software startup led by Xbox co-founder J Allard
“If a member’s bike goes missing, they simply tap out a few details and everyone in the 529 community within 10 miles gets an instant alert so they can keep an eye out and report a tip back to the victim if they see something. It’s like neighborhood watch that can help catch a thief before they pedal out of the zip code.” Read on
Bicycle security startup Project 529, led by former Xbox exec J Allard, acquires National Bike Registry
“We’re very happy to pass the baton to the team at Project 529 to attack the bicycle theft epidemic,” Eddie Orton, who has sponsored the NBR effort for over two decades, said in a statement. “The passion and capabilities of the team at 529 will be able to take our work to the next level and better serve our customers and partners.” Read on
Guelph police launch bike registry program as theft stats show spike
"We have a huge problem in terms of bicycle theft in our city," Josh Fraser, public information officer with Guelph Police said. "It's a huge market for resale... a lot of bikes now are high-end." Read on
Granville Island bike thefts Plummet by 70%
Granville Island’s Bicycle Valet service parked and monitored over 11,000 bikes between late-June and early-October. Additionally, over 900 bikes were registered with Project 529, a free bike logging service app endorsed by the Vancouver Police Department. Read on
Bike theft on Granville Island reduced dramatically thanks to community efforts
“The reduction in bicycle theft over the past two years, and the positive impact our efforts have had on the cycling community,” said Vancouver police constable Rob Brunt, “speak to the success of Granville Island’s program.” Read on
Someone’s Stolen Your Bike. Hope You’ve Done This to help Police get it Back
“I think we could make more arrests and recover more bikes with that tool for sure, with the ultimate goal being deterring future bike theft,” Johnson said. Read on
Oceanside RCMP Register Bikes to Deter Thieves
It will take only five minutes and it will help your protect owners’ bicycles from theft. A 529 Garage decal will be provided and will serve as a deterrent against thieves, RCMP say, as they would know the bicycle is listed in a bike registry. Read on
Life gets tougher for bike thieves in Delta, B.C.
"It puts a lot of power back in the hands of bicycle owners," said Sgt. Sarah Swallow with Delta police. Read on
Bike Theft on the Rise in Venice
“The arrests we have made are because the bikes were extremely unique, extremely valuable and the victims had pictures and were very vigilant in giving us the information,” Detective Goddard said. “It is really hard to try to recover these bikes if you do not have that information.” Read on
Parksville Qualicum Beach residents can register bikes
People registering their bike with 529 Garage, according to Oceanside RCMP, can significantly increase the chance of getting their bicycle returned in the event it is stolen. Read on
Kamloops Embracing Bike to Work and School Week
“[The] 529 Garage program is an app you get for your phone and you put all that good information about your bike into the phone. So your serial number, a photo of your bike… and we also have these little tamperproof shields,” Read on
Put Your Bike on Lockdown
“We’d like to see the numbers drop even more,” says Colleen Cornock, Crime Prevention Supervisor with the City’s Police Services. “It can only work with us continuing to work with the community to keep property safe.” Read on
Bike thefts are down in Kelowna this year
There have been 115 bikes reported stolen in Kelowna since the start of the calendar year, down 26.8% from the 157 reported stolen in the same period of 2015. “We’d like to see the numbers drop even more,” says Colleen Cornock, the City’s crime prevention supervisor. “It can only work with us continuing to work with the community to keep property safe.” Read on
Bike theft prevention pilot program coming to north campus
“Bike theft is an issue that people need to take more seriously, especially as citizens turn to alternate modes of transportation,” said Connie Marciniuk, a community safety liaison with Edmonton’s Neighbourhood Empowerment Team, a partnership between the city, Edmonton Police Service, Family Centre and United Way. “Our goal is to create a climate where cyclists feel more confident that their bikes are safe." Read on
Register your bike with app to get it back wheelie fast if stolen
“(Having a bicycle stolen) can have a huge impact on someone’s quality of life when it’s your primary mode of transportation. To have it stolen is really impactful.” Read on
Online registry hopes to reunite owners with their stolen bikes
“One of the successes 529 Garage had — and it was a huge success — in Granville Island, they had an 80-some per cent decrease in the number of thefts they had on Granville, which is one of the highest bike theft locations. Read on
VPD Launch Bike Registry Program to Recover Stolen Rides
The VPD say a woman was recently reunited with her stolen bike in Vancouver after 36 hours thanks to the registry. Read on
VPD Throws A Wrench Into the Spokes of Bike Thieves
“Our goal is to make Vancouver the most secure city in Canada to ride a bicycle,” says avid cyclist and VPD Deputy Chief Constable Warren Lemcke. “The 529 Garage registry will allow officers to quickly and efficiently recognize a stolen bicycle and get that bike back to its owner." Read on
ABUS partners with Portland’s Project 529
Both companies agree that the key first step in bike security is using the proper lock and using it correctly. The understanding that no lock offers 100-percent protection against a well-equipped thief is the basis for the partnership. Project 529 and its 529 Garage platform pick up where ABUS’s locks leave off, by providing easy bicycle registration and crowdsourced recovery assistance in the event of theft. Read on
529 Garage: Crowd-Connected Bike Security for the Modern Rider
Stolen bike registries have been around since the early days of the Internet (which explains why so many look like they were designed in 1998) but most offer little more than a registration form and reassuring words. The 529 Garage, however, takes the venerable bike database model and gives it a shot of 21st century technology. Read on
App Creator Aims to Halt Bike Theft
“We support project 529,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “We recognize it’s not the be-all to end-all, but it’s a step that we have to take to combat bike theft in our community.” Read on