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Police attribute spike in bike thefts to one suspect

NANAIMO – Police say one suspect might be responsible numerous bicycle thefts.

Nanaimo Mounties say one suspect might be responsible for bike thefts across the city, tallying tens of thousands of dollars.

The most recent reported thefts happened Tuesday at about 2:30 p.m. when the owners, who had been shopping in Save-On-Foods at Woodgrove Centre, came out of the store in time to witness a man take a bike out of their truck and ride off on it.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday in the Sears parking lot at Nanaimo North Town Centre, a witness spotted a man trying to use bolt cutters to snip a bike lock off a bike secured to a bike rail. The witness scared off the suspect, who fled in a white vehicle that was waiting for him.

Investigators believe this same suspect is responsible for numerous other bike thefts, including many high-end bikes, from backyards, under decks and sheds behind homes.

Police are advising people to keep bikes locked in sheds or garages if possible or at least keep them locked and out of sight.

Owners should also record bike serial numbers – usually stamped under the frame on the bottom bracket area between the pedal cranks – which can improve the chances of a stolen bike being returned. Pawn shops monitor Facebook page Stealing Nanaimo, which features postings of stolen items and will notify owners or police when serial numbers matching stolen items are spotted.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, 20-30, scruffy, and wearing a bright lime-green baseball cap, a T-shirt and nylon track pants.

Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.