Electrically assisted bicycles, which are becoming increasingly popular among Quebecers, are prime targets for thieves more than ever. The latter even go so far as to arm themselves well to make off with this loot worth thousands of dollars.
“They are well organized and well equipped. It’s not anything. I think they spotted the bike and studied their shot well,” says Saad Elblidi.
The Montreal native had his electric bike stolen in mid-October, which he had lent his son to go to school. Even with a supposedly very strong U-lock, the nearly $3,000 bike was stolen.
“I think they cut it with a saw. It’s a pretty straight cut,” says Mr. Elblidi.
With kind approval
Saad Elblidi is joined by his daughter on his electrically assisted bicycle, which was stolen in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville district last week.
“We’re a target of choice because it’s a very valuable item and it’s as easy to steal as a $100 bike,” agrees Stéphane Friquet, who suffered an attempted robbery in his backyard in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville area.
Last week, a criminal broke part of the staircase to which his electric bike was padlocked before eventually riding off with that of his less well-protected neighbor.
In a few seconds
On social media, Le Journal has found many testimonials from people claiming that their electric bike has been stolen in recent months.
One of these victims, who lives in the Ville-Marie district, even sent a video of the thief being caught red-handed.
We see the latter pull an electric saw out of his coat and use it to cut through the padlock in a matter of seconds.
Although bike theft has long been a scourge in Montreal, the growing popularity of electric bikes offers enticing business opportunities for thieves, as these models, which include a battery, range in price from $2,000 to $20,000.
“With everything we have in Montreal and the number of cars that are on the road, there are more and more electric bikes and the resale value is good,” explains Nicolas Régis Lupien, manager of the E2 Sport store, which specializes in electric bikes.
Twice as many flights
The Longueuil Agglomeration Police Department, which keeps statistics, indicates that in 2022 so far 40 thefts of electric bicycles have been reported, almost double the number in 2021 (24), the year we started counting.
Photo Pierre Paul Poulin
Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular among Quebecers.
Research on the Garage 529 platform, which aims to deter bike theft, shows that nearly one in five bikes reported stolen is an electric bike within a 16-mile radius of Montreal.
He is now reluctant to use it
Stéphane Friquet, who recently almost had his electric bike stolen, is more reluctant than ever to use it for his trips.
“It’s my main means of transportation. I drive 120 km a week for work. It was really a good buy.”
“[Depuis le vol], I somehow stored it in the basement to be safe for the rest of the season. Next season I will find a better solution to protect him.”
Mr Friquet has been anxious ever since and hopes he doesn’t have to buy a car to get around.
“[Mon vélo] has improved my quality of life because I no longer spend time in traffic and am out in nature. It would bother me to have to buy a car and bear all the associated costs and fees.”
Volley in less than 30 seconds
A few seconds of inattention were enough for Lorraine Thumerelle, a resident of Plateau-Mont-Royal, to have her nearly $3,000 electric bike stolen on October 13.
“I went to a sushi restaurant to pick up my order and 30 seconds later I turned around and my bike was gone,” says Lorraine Thumerelle.
She’s convinced the thief was “well armed” to steal it, because with a bag in hand, he would have been spotted riding a bike a little further.
After spending nearly $3,000 on this purchase, Ms. Thumerelle now believes it’s no longer worth buying new bikes in Montreal because the thieves “seem to be very efficient.”
“I feel like a part of me was taken away in a second. For me it was an alternative to the car and what I used to move my son.
Reduce the risk
E-bike dealers recommend their customers to invest a little more in a good lock, if possible with an alarm system, in addition to being able to locate the bike using their cell phone. It is also advisable to lock your bike in a secure indoor location whenever possible.
For its part, the Vélo Québec organization believes that there is still a long way to go for cyclists in general to have safe places to park their bikes.
“They can be Stellboxen (closed bicycle lockers) like those found elsewhere in certain car parks,” argues program director Magali Bebronne.
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