Bike thieves in Portage la Prairie were busy this summer. The Portage la Prairie RCMP Report a total of 30 bikes were reported missing between May 1st, and the end of September but Constable Sean O'Keefe says that number likely doesn't tell the whole story. O'Keefe says bicycle thefts often go unreported, as many feel embarrassed as they didn't lock their bikes, or their garages. He also notes it's not uncommon to see a rise in the number of bikes stolen in the summer, given the ease of access and transportation of them.

When it comes to those stealing bicycles, O'Keefe says it's often hard to identify and apprehend the suspects. He notes the bikes that are kept are hard to identify, and in other cases, they're simply used as quick transportation.

"They're often repainted, and the serial numbers are filed away. It makes it very difficult for us if we do come across a bicycle similar to the one stole for us to truly identify it as the stolen bicycle. More often than not, it's just a matter of a joy ride situation where the bicycle is stolen by a suspect and abandoned a short time later, likely to just get from point A to point B."

O'Keefe says the best thing you can do to prevent a theft is to keep your bike locked to an immovable object, to help make it harder for potential thieves. However, it's not just prevention that the RCMP is advising. O'Keefe says there are also important steps you can take to help make the recovery of your bicycle more likely in the event of a theft.

"Take a photo of your bike, make sure you note any serial number. If you can, if you have the ability to, engrave a marking somewhere only you know about, this way if we do recover the bicycle and the serial number is filed off, we'd be able to identify it in a different way."

Reporting your bicycle stolen also increases the chance you'll see it again if it's recovered. O'Keefe notes the bikes discovered around the community that aren't reported stolen are often turned over to the local fire department, which in turn sells off the bicycles at the annual bike auction.