Bike Theft

Bike thefts in Calgary have always been an issue, however we have recently seen a growing trend in our city, prompting us to explore ways to address thefts and better support victims.

The best way to deter bike theft and recover a stolen bike is to register it. 

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) has partnered with Bike Index to aid in returning stolen bikes to their rightful owners. 

Bike Index is a free, voluntary, universal bike registration database used by individual bike owners, bike shops and police services. If a registered bike is stolen, an owner can log in and make note that their bike is missing. In the event it is recovered by police or looked up by an unsuspecting buyer, its status on Bike Index will appear as stolen and alert those searching the serial number.

To date, Calgary has surpassed 50,000 registered Bike Index users and returned hundreds of bikes, with an estimated value of $330,000, to victims of theft.

By registering with Bike Index, owners are provided with easily accessible documentation of their bike’s information and serial number, which police can look up to help return a stolen bike to its rightful owner. 

When you register, you will be asked to provide the following information:

• Bike make, model, colour and serial number
• Other defining characteristics of your bike
• Photos of your bike, if possible
• Your phone number or email address

CPS district offices and other participating partners provide free Bike Index stickers when you register your bike. Your Bike Index sticker:

• is a unique identifier and allows anyone with a smart phone to connect to your registry page
• acts as a deterrent for potential thieves

If your bike goes missing:

• Report it to police
• Report it as lost or stolen on Bike Index

Many stolen bikes can be found for sale online. If you find your bike being sold online:

• Take screenshots of the ad or write down the ad information, including the ad number and seller information.
• Contact police immediately at 403-266-1234 or come to a district office. Make sure you have the ownership information from your Bike Index account.
• For your safety and to ensure a proper investigation, do not contact the seller or arrange to meet them yourself. 

Found bikes are no longer required to be reported to the Calgary Police Service (CPS) through the non-emergency line or a district office.

Instead, fill out the form on ifoundabike.ca and a CPS employee will come to you to collect the bike within three-to-five business days.