1¢ - North Shore News — Sunday, December 26, 2000

iM e
Annette Martin

Contributing Writer

WHEN Dion Steyn
and his family moved
to Canada from
Durban, South Africa,
five months ago, he
didn’t anticipate a
mini crime-wave in

purine

his new neighbour-
hood.

In the past three months,
Steyn’s family have had three
bicycles stolen from the car-
port outside their North
Vancouver home in the 1900
block of Cedar Village.

Two of the bikes were
Norco models belonging to

his nine-veer oid daughter
and his cight-vear eld son,
Const. Dan Guilfovle,
media liaison for the North
Vancouver RCMP, confirmed
that since September the

~RCMP have received four

reports of bieyele theft from
that vicinity.

All of the stolen bikes
were stored in carports and

oo.

ag a hat s

most were children’s bikes.
Qa the night of Dec. 14,
Steyn aiso lost his mountain
bike when thieves cut
through the chain lock secur-
ing it to a pole.
He believes that he and

his neighbours are victims of

a bike-thett syndicate.
“They're pretty selective.
Anything with shocks are a

target. They vo for geod
quality.” he said.

The combined estimated
value of the stolen mountain
bike and his son’s bike alone
is S1,150.

Stevn noted thar the
thieves always scem to strike
during bad weather. The Jat-
est theft occurred during a
snow storm.

Guiltoyle suggested that
the sumimer wouid usually be:
a higher time of loss but
criminals do take advantage
of times when fewer People
are around.

“Common theft isa crime
of opportunity,” he said.

He had a few tps for all
bivele owners.

First, the best method of
storage is to keep bikes out of
sight. If they can’t be seen
they are jess likely to be tar-
gets.

Better. locks help, bue
removing wheels or saddles °
only detec a thief who wants
to ride the bike away.

Guilfovle.. recommends
that owners keep detailed
information on their bikes,
including - serial numbers,
makes, models, colours and
notes of any additional acces~
sories.

This information helps
police to match losz. and
found files with stolen items.

As for Steyn, he won't be
replacing any bikes until his.
family moves to a less vulner-

Although - North
Vancouver doesn’t have: the
violent crime. Steyn claims i is:
prevalent in Durban, he has ~.

* “able area.

dearned.a valuable lesson: the’ |

hard way.

“Pil never keep bikes out---
side again in Canada,” he =
said. :

‘NORTH VANCOUVER
DISTRICT COUNCIL:

- WEST: VANCOUVER.
‘DISTRICT COUNCIL
The ‘next regular. council
meeting is: Monday, Jan. 8 at:
a: 30 Pp: Mm.)

., WEST. VANCOUVER::

SCHOOL DISTRICT 45:.:-
@: The. next. regular: school
board Meeting: is». Tuesday,

The next. regular school
oard® meeting’ is uesday,
in. '9.at'7. p.m.