OPERATION BIKE GUARDThe Hamilton Police Service wishes allcyclists a safe and enjoyable experience onour roads and recreational areas. A bicyclerepresents a substantial investment and is apopular item of theft. Thousands of lost andstolen bicycles are recovered by the policeevery year. Most bicycle owners never seetheir bikes again simply because the ownercannot be located. OPERATION BIKEGUARD was created to assist the police inidentifying the owner of found or stolenbicycles and to provide educational tips to thepublic regarding bicycle theft prevention andsafety.

REMEMBER:Look after your bicycle or someone else will.

THE PROGRAMBicycle owners complete an Operation BikeGuard Identification form and include aphotograph of their bicycle. THE OWNERRETAINS THIS INFORMATION IN THEEVENT THEIR BICYCLE IS LOST ORSTOLEN. If the bicycle is lost or stolen,the owner brings the completed BicycleIdentification form or envelope into theHamilton Police Service and file a report.

BIKE GUARD OPTIONSOPTION 1:

BICYCLE IDENTIFICATIONFORM

Bicycle owners can log on to the HPSwebsite and complete an electronic BicycleIdentification Form and include a photographof their bike. Educational bicycle tips canalso be accessed at this site. Go towww.hamiltonpolice.on.ca under the"Preventing Crime" page and within the"Bicycle Theft Prevention Program."

OPTION 2:BICYCLE IDENTIFICATION

ENVELOPEBicycle owners can attend any CommunityPolicing Centre to pick up their Operation BikeGuard Identification Envelope, which containsthe educational bicycle tips and convenientlystores a bicycle photo inside. These forms aresimply "hardcopy" versions of the electronicforms available under Option 1.

LOSS OR THEFTIf your bicycle is lost or stolen, please visit thepolice station nearest you to file a stolen/lostbicycle report. Bring your completed BicycleIdentification form, including the photo andsales receipt, in order to assist the police inidentifying your bike (if or when it is located).The police report must be filled out in personand an investigating officer will provide youwith more details at that time.

PHOTOGRAPHSCommunity Policing Centre volunteers willoffer to photograph bicycles and provide ahardcopy photo to be stored in theregistration envelope. Volunteers will alsoprovide Operation Identification engravers tobike owners wishing to engrave identifyingmarkers on their bicycle frames.

CYCLING SAFETY TIPS HELMET SAFETY:

It is absolutely crucial to wear a helmet.A serious head injury may cause loss ofcognitive or mental capacity.

When putting on a helmet, level it over yourforehead and adjust the chin strap to fit snuglyand comfortably. It should protect the foreheadwithout slipping.

Helmets should comply with CSA safetystandards. The following standards areacceptable: CPSC, ASTM, ANSI, Snell, BS andthe AS although some regulations may be out ofdate.

ROAD SENSE: Cyclists share the road with motorists,knowledge of traffic rules and regulations isessential to personal safety and well being.

• Be sure to obey traffic signs and lights • Use hand signals to communicate your

intentions to motorists• Scan the road behind you, learn to look

back over your shoulder without losingbalance

• Make eye contact with motorists• Look out for road hazards • Wear bright reflective clothing • Use lights at night

OPERATIONBIKE

GUARD

131136 DEC09

THEFT PREVENTION TIPSStore your bicycle in a safe location and use alocking device to attach it to a secure and fixedobject. Also consider removing a tire or seat todiscourage would-be thieves.

Record your bicycle make, model and serialnumber on the face of the Bicycle Identificationform. This will assist to identify your bicycle shouldit ever be lost / stolen and recovered by police.Typically the serial number of your bicycle is on theframe under the shaft that houses the pedals. TheHamilton Police also have an engraver available atthe Community Policing Centres that you canborrow to engrave a unique identifying mark on theframe of your bike.

If your bicycle is stolen, please visit the policestation nearest you to file a stolen/lost bicyclereport. Bring your completed BicycleIdentification form including the receipt andphoto to the police station in order to assist inidentifying your bike if or when it is located. Thepolice report must be filled out in person and aninvestigating officer will provide you with moredetails at that time.

For more information onOPERATION BIKE GUARD

contact theHAMILTON POLICE SERVICE

CRIME PREVENTION BRANCH905-546-4900

or visitwww.hamiltonpolice.on.ca

"Bicycle Theft PreventionProgram"