Bike anti-theft project available here     

            

Access to one of the world’s most successful programme to fight bike theft (including e-bikes), 529 Garage, is now available to every police department in New Zealand.

“Christchurch Police are pleased to be supporters of the 529 Garage initiative and welcome the decision to roll it out nationwide,” says Christchurch Police senior sergeant Roy Appley.

“We know that our colleagues in other police districts will welcome this additional tool in their efforts to reunite stolen bikes with their rightful owners.”

Christchurch City Council community travel advisor Anne Heins says bike thefts are an ongoing issue in the city, as well as throughout New Zealand, with thousands of bikes stolen annually from an estimated four million bikes.

“We have seen the success of this programme in other cities, including Vancouver, and we’re eager to see it rolled out across the country to start putting the brakes on bike thieves,” she says.

Originally started as a pilot project involving the Vancouver Police Department in Canada in 2015, the programme now has more than 3.1 million searchable bikes worldwide.

Since its launch, bike thefts have declined by 70% (from nine to three daily) in Vancouver.

“What began as a commitment by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to reduce bike theft in our city has now spread worldwide,” says VPD chief constable Adam Palmer.

529 Garage was created by J Allard (pictured right with Rob Brunt of the VPD) a former Microsoft executive, who – after having his bicycle stolen – built the system with the vision of cutting the bike theft epidemic in North America in half by 2025.

“We’ve changed the way police fight bike thefts around the world, providing a universal registration system that’s accessible, searchable and shared by police forces,” says Allard.

As a result, bicycles are being returned to their owners, at times across international borders.”

The 529 Garage team will work with the New Zealand police service, councils, retail stores and cycling organisations across the country to roll out the programme.

All bicycle owners are encouraged to register their bikes free with 529 Garage or download the 529 Garage smartphone app. Bike retailers can contact Project 529 to learn more.