Bike theft: engraving improves odds of getting it back

Bike theft is problem in any city, but instead of "stealing" your bike back, a community policing centre says there is another solution.

Last week,Vancouver resident Kayla Smithmet up with her bike thief after seeing her bicycle listed on Craigslistand then used the opportunity to "steal" her bike back.

• Read more about Kayla's story

Vancouver police say officers will facilitate a bike recovery if they're called to help, and warned it could be dangerous to act on your own.

• 'We have the ability' to recover stolen bikes, say Vancouver police

Members of the Kerrisdale Oakridge Marpole Community Policing Centre say they have just the solution for you if you don't mind a little marking on your bike.

The centre's Jeremy Sally toldThe EarlyEdition's Jason D'Souza they offerfree bike registration for all cyclists.

The process includes:

• photographs of all unique traits of the bike logged into a computer system.
• registering the owner's personal information with the bike.
• engraving the cyclist's B.C. I.D or Driver's Licence onto the frame of the bike.