DENVER — Denver's bicycle registry program seems to be working. New data shows thefts are down 30% in 2024 compared to this time last year.
The Denver Police Department launched the 529 Garage program in April 2023. Since then, police have reunited 11 stolen bikes with their owners. More than 22,000 bikes are currently registered with 529 Garage.
People can sign up for the free program using the app or through the website. The database stores photos, bike information, and serial numbers. If a bike is reported stolen, that information becomes part of a national database, helping officers track down the owner if the bike is eventually found.
“Over the last four months or so, we have had four stolen bicycles that we recovered, and when cross-referencing them on the 529 garage program, they did come up as flagged bicycles,” said DPD spokesman Doug Schepman. “One of those bicycles had been reported stolen out of Golden but was recovered here in Denver.”
DPD said cyclists can take that protection one step further by registering for 529 Garage Shield, which comes with a sticker. It may sound simple, but it can make a big difference.
“It basically advertises to a would-be thief that your bicycle is registered in a police registry, and if they are caught with it, we have a better chance of linking it to a report for the original owner,” he said.
Schepman said 529 Garage Shield stickers cost around $10 and can be purchased at bike shops around Denver. DPD is also giving away the stickers free of charge at district stations.
DPD has a warehouse where they keep the stolen bikes they’ve recovered and the abandoned bikes they’ve found. Schepman said they typically have between 150 and 200 bikes at a time. If a bike isn't claimed within 60 days, he says it goes to auction. Most of the bikes in their warehouse right now are not registered with 529 Garage, making it difficult for police to find the owners.
“We don’t know who the owner is or have a way to connect with them to return the bike to them,” said Schepman. “So, registering your serial number on a platform like 529 is the key piece to help get your bike back to you if it is stolen.”
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