Engraving bicycles to curb theft
As student cyclists begin to crowd the bicycle path along De Maisonneuve Boulevard, the Concordia University Security Department reminds students about the free bicycle engraving service.
Offered in conjunction with the Montreal police, the engraving service is designed to curb bicycle theft and assist in the recovery of stolen bicycles. Engraved bicycles are identified by official identification provided by the student.
The service, introduced at the university three years ago, is offered each Tuesday during the month of September, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Students are asked to bring their bicycles, along with their health insurance/medicare card, driver’s licence or Concordia ID to the corner of De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. and Bishop Street (next to the J.W. McConnell Library Building, 1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.). The engraving process takes about 30 seconds to complete.
In order to deter potential thieves, students will also receive a security sticker to place on their bicycles to confirm they have been engraved.
Constable Eric Charbonneau of the Montreal police, who engraved bikes at the university throughout the summer, says the service is popular among students, with an average of 40 to 60 bicycles engraved per hour. He adds, however, that most students only become aware of the service after their bicycles are stolen.
Engraved bicycles are more difficult to resell, says Charbonneau. “Once pawn shops and other buyers notice the engraving, along with the security sticker, they think twice about taking off with it. If you can’t resell it, why steal it?”
Building Engineering student Chelsy Pigeon, who had her bicycle engraved at Concordia this summer, is just one of many students who relies on her bicycle as her sole mode of transportation. “While I love to ride my bike to get around, it’s just so tough to keep it safe. I was happy to come across this engraving service — every bit helps!”
Concordia Investigator-Preventionist Lyne Denis, who works alongside the Montreal police to provide students with the service, notes that thieves are typically aware of engraving and have even approached her during engraving sessions to find out what was being done to the bikes. Needless to say, the would-be thieves were not too thrilled.
Charbonneau agrees that thieves have become aware of the engraving program at Concordia and are less likely to frequent the campus to steal. He has come across a few success stories whereby he and his partner have investigated suspicious individuals with bicycles in their possession, only to check the engraving and discover that the bicycle matched up with another individual’s identification. “The bikes are returned to the rightful owner and everyone goes home happy… well, except the thieves!”
Related links:
• Concordia Security Department
• Allégo Concordia