How to keep your bike safe as thefts rise in Calgary

With bike thefts on the rise in Calgary, a cyclingenthusiast is offering some tips to keep yours safe.

"I look at any bike, whether it's your $200 Kijiji bike or it's your $10,000 racing bike, that bike has a value to you," BobGrunewald, marketing director of Bow Cycle and Sports, told the Calgary Eyeopenerthis week.

"Yes, you might not buy the most expensive lock,but if that's your source of commuting or that's just the bike you love to go for a ride on, you have to protect it."

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Reported bike thefts have almost tripled in five years, according to numbers provided by the Calgary Police Service.

Thieves lifted just over 1,000 bicycles in 2012. Last year, just under 3,000 were stolen, the data shows.

Up to date numbers aren't available for 2017 yet, but as of May,840had been reported stolen.

That's a slight dip from the same months in the previous year, but police say May to September with the warmer weather and more riders on the streets is the busiest time for bike thefts.

In the winter, it's more popular to steal bikes from break-and-enters, police said.

Thieves cut locks 'pretty easily'

Grunewald showed CBC News how well different kinds of locks work. They ranged from $10 to hundreds.

"At the bottom, a basic cable lock with a combination, I've actually opened these," he said.

"It takes you about 20 minutes to go through all the combinations. Most people don't have that time, but in truth, with a pair of wire cutters, I can get through that pretty easily."

• Listen to the full interview about picking a good bike lock

These bike locks are helpful because they're light and easy to carry, but Grunewalkrecommends using them onlyin fairly secure areas where you can keep an eye on your bike.

'Better than nothing'

Coatings will make is harder to cut, too, but hardened steel is best. Those would need a grinding tool to cut.

Sometimes thieves will take wireless power tools along on their crime sprees, he said, so park your bike in a visible location.

"Any lock will take away that crime of convenience, and so even spending a little bit of money is better than nothing," Grunewald said. "If you value your bike, put a lock on it."

Most bike locks come with an effectiveness rating on a scale of one to 10, which you can check, too.

With some of the higher-end locks, you can register your bike, and if your two-wheeler is stolen, you could receive some compensation, Grunewald said.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener