Shocking bike theft

Photo: Contributed

This $3,100 e-bike was stolen Wednesday morning.

An early morning smash and dash netted a thief a $3,100 bike.

The e-bike was stolen from Southward Medical Supplies close to 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Jaki Beck said she received a call from the alarm company that police were investigating a break in at her Vernon business.

“There was a guy here a couple days ago, a rather swarthy looking dude, and he was checking out the bikes and checking out the windows just at closing time. We have a lot of unsavoury characters checking out our electric bikes because it is a magnet for them,” said Beck whose business is located in a strip mall across from Polson Park.

Beck said an employee at a neighbouring business heard a loud bang at around 5:45 a.m.

Beck said the alarm did not initially go off after the thief smashed the door glass with a rock. He then entered the business and had to smash the window outward to get the 60-pound bike out of the building.

She said police were on scene within minutes, and it was actually the officer investigating the crime that set off the alarm.

“At first I did not think anything was gone, I thought they just smashed it and then he (police) started asking about electric bikes and I looked around and said, 'Oh, I guess we are missing one,'” she said.

“It's a mountain bike with really big fat tires. It is a bright electric green colour.”

The bike has large black racks on the front and back as well.

Beck said he has heard of numerous bike thefts in the city and speculates if someone is actively buying stolen bikes.

Anyone with any information on the theft is urged to call RCMP or CrimeStoppers.