Tips from Rob Brunt, bike detective

We’re back with another round of Garage Talk. This month, we wanted to let you hear from Rob Brunt, 529’s very own bike detective. Rob is a veteran law enforcement officer with 30 years on the Vancouver police force and was instrumental in helping us launch the 529 program to combat the growing bike theft problem in Vancouver, British Columbia. That was 10 years ago this year, and reported bike thefts in Vancouver are now down over 60% since 529 was launched.

We asked Rob to share some practical advice drawn from his years of experience in policing, bike security, and recovery.

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What's the most surprising bike theft trend you've observed recently, and what can cyclists do to protect themselves against it?

People think most bikes are being stolen off the street, but in reality, a large number are from breaking and entering… from garages, storage units or even inside your home. When a bike is stolen from somewhere the owner feels it is secure, they are much less likely to lock it, even if they have a lock just sitting there. My advice is to always lock your bike, even if it’s in your home. If you don’t have some sort of rack to lock it to, you can just put the lock through your wheel and frame, or lock it to another bike, to prevent it from being rideable.

Can you share a memorable recovery story that demonstrates the power of community engagement and proper bike registration?

We have so many! But one of our recent success stories came from Winnipeg, where a cyclist had both registered their ebike with the 529 Garage and installed a tracker. When their bike was stolen, they were able to use the information from tracker to help the police locate the bike, and because the bike was properly registered with photos, the officer could quickly verify ownership and recover it. This is exactly why we partnered with Bikebac - when you combine community vigilance, proper registration, and tracking technology, you create a powerful recovery system that actually works.

What's the biggest mistake you see bike owners make when it comes to securing their bikes, and how can they fix it?

I can’t believe how many people will spend thousands on a bike, but still use a cheap cable lock to secure it. If you’d pay a $200 reward to get your bike back, why wouldn’t you pay that for a high quality lock that will reduce the reduce the risk of it being stolen in the first place. A thief is always going to skip over a bike with a strong U-lock if a bike with an easily cut cable lock is nearby.

Also, I’m always surprised at how many people don’t know the right way to use their locks. I see bikes locked through just the wheel all the time. If the lock isn’t through the frame, it’s not doing you any good.

I tell people that you need to think about security in layers: use a high-quality U-lock lock, secure both the frame AND wheel to a solid anchor point, register your bike, consider adding a tracker, and make sure it’s insured just in case all of that fails.

How has technology changed bike theft in recent years?

The bike thieves really got ahead of the game with online marketplaces. It made it much more profitable and easy to sell stolen bikes. That’s a big reason that the 529 Garage was created. We wanted to give bike owners and the police tools to help even the playing field.

Registration helps the bike owner have the information they need in the palm of their hands, and police are able to quickly find the owners of bikes that they recover. 529 Garage also gives the community and bike shops a way to check bikes before they are purchased. And in fact, we often see recoveries from tips from groups that patrol online marketplaces in an effort to fight the problem.

Of course, tracking solutions can also play a big role, and they are getting more affordable and effective. Paired up with registration, they can make a big difference.

Want to add an extra layer of security to your bike? The Bikebac Tracker is now available for purchase through the Bikebac website. Currently compatible with Apple devices, this tracker integrates seamlessly with Find My network technology. Android users can now join the waiting list - sign up here for exclusive pre-order access to the upcoming Android-compatible version.

If you could give just one piece of advice to every bike owner, what would it be and why?

Register your bike before you need to. It's like insurance - by the time you need it, it's too late. A proper registration with clear, recent photos and detailed information about your bike is absolutely crucial for recovery. It's the foundation that makes everything else work - from community alerts to law enforcement recovery to insurance claims. Without registration, even if someone finds your bike, proving it's yours becomes incredibly difficult. That's why we've made it so easy with the 529 Garage mobile app - take 5 minutes now to potentially save your bike later.

Already registered your bike? Level up your protection with a 529 Shield! Our data shows that bikes with shields are not only stolen less frequently but also have higher recovery rates when theft does occur. Every shield purchase directly supports our ongoing efforts to end bike theft.

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Links in the chain

We’re still working out what goes into this newsletter, but in homage to one of our (ok, my) favorite newsletters, We’re Here from John and Hank Green, we wanted to share some of our favorite cycling-ish links.

• Have to love a great Bike Bus video!

• Great demo of the wrong and the right way to lock your bike (with a bike sporting a 529 Shield!)

• Just how easy is it to clip a cable lock?

• Ride with your pup!

• Not sure how to lock up your e-scooter?

• Victoria BC says bike theft is down to the lowest its been since 2011!

Until next time, keep on riding!

The 529 Team