Hamilton police take down bike chop shop in encampment

Police in Hamilton, Ont., have shut down a bike chop shop operating out of a downtown encampment.

A chop shop for bikes is an illegal operation where stolen bicycles are disassembled and their parts sold individually to avoid detection. These shops often strip down bikes to their components, making it difficult to trace the stolen goods and creating a market for parts sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Authorities responded to reports of suspected stolen bicycles at the encampment near Main and King streets.  They seized eight bikes from the area. Officers were alerted to the potential chop shop at the intersection known locally as the Delta. Local reports indicated the presence of numerous bicycles believed to be stolen. Upon investigation, officers confirmed that these bikes did not belong to the encampment residents.

Bike repainted and taken apart

While on the scene, a local reported that a steel bicycle rack had been stolen from a nearby McDonald’s parking lot the previous night. Officers returned the bike rack to McDonald’s and discovered CCTV footage of the theft. The footage led to the identification of a 50-year-old Hamilton man. He has been charged with Theft Under $5000 and Failure to Comply with Probation.

“Some of the bikes had been painted and/or dismantled, making identification of the bicycle owners difficult. Police would like to remind community members that the best way to ensure your property can be returned to you is to register bicycles through our online bike registry,” the statement concluded. “On average, 450 bicycles are stolen in Hamilton every year. Only four per cent are recovered. Only 30 per ent of recovered bicycles are returned to their owners because police often have a hard time matching the bicycle to its owner.”

Making sure your bike is secure as possible

It’s a good reminder that when locking your bike, it’s a good idea to do so in a well-lit area with high foot traffic. Avoid leaving your bike locked outside overnight if possible. When locking your bike, always remove any accessories. That means the GPS, and lights, and take them with you. Additionally, secure your bike to a solid, immovable object. Bike racks are ideal, but it’s wise to give them a shake before locking up. Some may not be firmly secured to the ground and could be exploited by thieves.