News Release - Winnipeg Police Service

Friday, May 4, 2018     Online Classified Ad  Robberies  – Public Safety Advisory The Winnipeg Police Service Major Crimes Unit is currently investigating a number of robberies stemming from classified ads posted online. We remind the public that online sales allow criminals to remain anonymous while taking advantage of unsuspecting buyers and sellers. We offer the following crime prevention tips: Ask for a photo of the serial number before meeting and attempt to confirm the item hasn't been reported stolen Don't give out personal information Google the buyer/sellers name Ask about the history of the item being sold Meet during daylight hours Make arrangements to meet in the public place equipped with surveillance cameras Do not transfer/provide money to the person before receiving the product Do not meet someone alone Use generic photos Follow your gut - if something feels wrong, it probably is   Bike Online Registry & Theft Reporting On May 3, 2018, at approximately 1 a.m., East District General Patrol members were conducting a proactive Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) patrol in the area of Youville Street and Carriere Avenue when they saw a male that they recognized as having a history for property theft crimes. The male was on a bicycle and was committing a violation of the Highway Traffic Act. Officers stopped the male and though the bicycle did not come back as stolen in either an internal or external Canada-wide database, he was unable to provide proof of ownership or explain as to how he came into possession of it. Believing the bike was stolen, officers seized it, however the male was released without any charges. Officers continued their investigation and by using relationships they had built with local bicycle shops, they were able to determine that while the theft had been unreported, the bike had in fact been stolen over the past weekend. The bicycle was returned to the owner and charges will be pending at a later date. The Winnipeg Police Service is taking this opportunity to remind the public of the importance of both registering your bicycle with the Online Bike Registry and reporting bike theft. The Online Bike Registry was launched by the City of Winnipeg in late April and is a new, faster, and more convenient method to register your bicycle. Officers often locate bicycles before they are reported lost or stolen, especially if they are taken during overnight hours. The Online Bike Registry provides police members with the ability to look-up owner information and make inquiries or return bicycles to their rightful owner promptly. The Online Bike Registry can be found here: http://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/BLES/LS/bicycle_license.stm We also ask that bike theft be reported to the Winnipeg Police Service in a timely matter. These reports are crucial for our investigations and can assist with identifying crime trends or areas that are experiencing increased theft. An example of this is the directed patrol that brought the officers to the area where the male had been stopped. They also help officers immediately determine if a bicycle is stolen or not. The Winnipeg Police Service offers online reporting here: http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/report/default.stm Reports can also be made by calling our police non-emergency line at 204-986-6222 or visit any Winnipeg Police Service Centre. For further information contact either: Constable Rob Carver, Public Information Officer Constable Jay Murray, Public Information Officer Constable Tammy Skrabek, Public Information Officer Kelly Dehn, Manager of Public Affairs Phone: (204) 986-3061 | Fax: (204) 986-3267 | Email: WPS-PIO@Winnipeg.ca Share this mailing with your social network by clicking on the appropriate link:       Related Winnipeg Police Service Report a Crime Online Crime Stoppers CrimeStat Unsubscribe If you do not want to receive these emails anymore, unsubscribe. Please do not reply to this email. This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address and replies are not monitored. Mailing address: City of Winnipeg, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3B 1B9 Privacy Statement The City of Winnipeg values your privacy. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties. You are receiving this email as a result of your signing up for the Winnipeg Police Service Email News list offered on the City of Winnipeg website. You may unsubscribe or change your subscription options at any time.