Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Bike Thefts

Kamloops RCMP crackdown includes arrest of man suspected of stealing bike on his wedding day

Sep 24, 2019 | 1:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — RCMP in Kamloops say a recent crackdown on bicycle thefts led to some surprising results, including a suspect accused of stealing a bike on his wedding day.

According to a news release, RCMP recently conducted a four-day “bait bike” program in Kamloops.

As part of the program, a bicycle is locked in a location visible to potential criminals and kept under surveillance. Then, if the lock is tampered with and the bicycle is taken, RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) members are in position to make a quick arrest.

After the four-day program, RCMP made eight arrests and are recommending a total of 23 charges.

In one of the instances, the 41-year-old suspect was married earlier in the day and was en route to the reception when he was arrested.

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RCMP say the man saw the locked bike, stopped, cut the lock and stole the bike.

Investigators made the arrest and got the bike back, noting he was “well-dressed for conducting a bike theft. RCMP say the man was also driving with a prohibited license.

Here are the summaries of the other seven arrestees:

• Suspect 1: 43-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for theft and possession of property obtained by crime.
• Suspect 2: 39-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for possession property obtained by crime and trespassing by night.
• Suspect 3: 28-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for theft, possessing property obtained by crime and obstructing police.
• Suspect 4: 45-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for theft and possession of property obtained by crime.
• Suspect 5: 32-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for theft, possessing property obtained by crime, obstructing police, trespassing by night and mischief.
• Suspect 6: 33-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for possession of a controlled substance and trafficking a controlled substance. (The drugs are suspected to be methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroine.)
• Suspect 7: 45-year-old male from Kamloops. Arrested for theft, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of break-in tools.

According to Staff Sgt. Simon Pillay, none of the eight suspects is homeless, but all are “known participants” in the local drug scene.

RCMP say Kamloops is home to a lot of bicycle tourism, and it is not uncommon to see very expensive bicycles stolen, even if they are locked up.