FINGER POINTED AT DRUG DEALERS

Drug pushers are to blame for much of the bicycle theft in downtown
Kelowna, police say.

Last week members of the Downtown Enforcement Unit conducted a
bicycle theft sting based on the BAIT-care concept.

Using a planted bike, cops lay in wait for would-be thieves,
eventually arresting seven men between the ages of 17 and 55 and
charging them with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen
property under $5,000.

"Thefts of any kind are normally generated from the illicit drug
industry and most of the theft suspects are drug abusers. The
downtown core of Kelowna continues to experience drug dealers using
bicycles to sell their wares and members of the RCMP have noticed
that these dealers are on different bicycles daily," said RCMP
spokesman Sgt. Terry McLachlan.

So far this year, Kelowna RCMP have opened 908 bike theft files.

Those arrested last week were released and given conditions which
include staying out of the red zone, a specific area of the downtown
core known for its drug activity.

Police are asking the general public to lock up their bicycles at all
times, record the serial number on their bike, take a photo of it and
engrave a number or something distinguishable on the side.