Police urge taking precautions as bike thefts surge in Ottawa during summer months

As the summer heats up, bike thefts are on the rise too, a growing problem in Ottawa. CTV’s Tyler Fleming has tips on how to stay protected.

As summer heats up, so too does the number of bicycle thefts in the nation’s capital. Ottawa police are urging residents to take extra steps to protect themselves.

According to police, 1,413 bicycles were reported stolen in 2024. Bike thefts are especially prevalent during warmer months, and some cyclists say they’re being targeted even when they believe their bikes are secure.

“We felt really horrible, really angry and violated,” said Elizabeth Gottman, whose husband’s bicycle was stolen from a locked cage in a parking garage.

“It took four minutes for this guy to very casually cut the fence of the unit, enter through the front door, and then cut the lock, which took about two and a half minutes. Then he just strolled right out as if it was his own.”

Gottman, a doctor at two Ottawa hospital campuses, adds she knows of several colleagues whose bikes have been stolen from similar locked areas, including one who had their bike stolen while working an overnight shift at CHEO.

Centretown, Sandy Hill and the ByWard Market are among the hardest hit neighbourhoods, with 263 bikes reported stolen in Centretown alone this year — up from 161 in 2023. Sandy Hill-Ottawa East and the ByWard Market saw 99 and 82 bike thefts respectively in 2024.

Mitch Craig, manager at Kunstadt Sports in the Glebe, says prevention starts with the right equipment.

“There’s so many locks out there, but the best one you can get is a U-lock,” says Craig. “They’re the hardest to cut through.”

Craig says a quality U-lock costs less than $60 but for increased security, recommends using a U-lock paired with a cable to secure multiple parts of the bike. He also says to take accessories, like lights and seats, with you when parking in public.

Ottawa police echo that advice, adding that where you park your bike matters. Police say to avoid locking your bike on the front porch or side of your house.

Police are also encouraging residents to register their bikes with the 529 Garage program. The database helps identify and return stolen bikes if they’re recovered.

“If you see your stolen bike, do not intervene,” says Const. Fern Simon-John. “Gather as much information as possible, the location, what the person looks like, time of day, call the police and let us do our job.”

While Gottman’s husband never recovered his stolen bike, the experience has made the couple more cautious.

“Now he has another bike, not a fancy one just a commuter bike,” she says. “And a better lock and so do I.”

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