Stolen bicycles worth $100K recovered by Vancouver police

Vancouver's bike theft epidemic was on sharp display Wednesday, as Vancouver police showed off 148 stolen bicycles, scooters and electric bikes recovered from a number of eastside storage lockers late last month.

The estimated value of the bikes is over $100,000.

VPD Sgt. Aaron Roed said police are nowworking to find the rightful owners, something that isn't always easy.

"Often, when we are dealing with reports of stolen bikes, we find that owners are unable to provide serial numbers or other identifying descriptions that could help us get their bike back to them," said Roed.

He said registering a bike using the serial numbers and free 529 Garage registration and recovery program is the best way to help police reunite a stolen bikewith its rightful owner.

Police were led to the storage lockers during an unrelated investigation.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 1,600 bicycles have been reported stolen in Vancouver.

Anyone who has not reported their bike stolen to VPD can do so usingthe online crime reporting system or by calling the non-emergency police line.

Three Vancouver men and anotherfrom Surrey were arrested and released without charges. VPD say they continue to investigate and may recommend charges in the future.