Seven high-end mountain bikes, including a police bait bike with a GPS locator hidden on it, were found in a U-Haul van pulled over by RCMP on the Sea to Sky Highway last week.
Whistler Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair said the bait bike was stolen in the resort in the early hours of Friday, Aug. 16 during the Crankworx mountain bike festival.
"We're pleased that it has been successful and we will continue to use the bait bike program not only in Whistler but throughout the Sea to Sky corridor," said LeClair.
Whistler RCMP began tracking the bike by GPS after they found it missing, noting that it was travelling southbound on Highway 99. They requested the assistance of Squamish RCMP and the West Vancouver Police Department.
West Vancouver Police set up a road check at Highway 99 and Lawrence Way in West Vancouver and located the U-Haul van travelling southbound. Police checked the U-Haul and discovered that it contained the seven bicycles including the bait bike.
"We will now attempt to locate the owners, obviously we suspect the bikes are all stolen," LeClair said.
Police arrested two people, a 45-year-old man from Vancouver and a 47-year-old man from Surrey. Both are well known to police and are facing charges.
"One has been arrested for bike theft before in Whistler," he said. "It's quite common for people to come up and do that kind of thing."
Anyone with a missing or stolen bike can contact Whistler RCMP at 1-604-932-3044.
Male arrested with knife
On Aug. 15 at 9 p.m. the RCMP received a report regarding six males in a dispute on the Village Stroll, one of whom had pulled out a knife and was reportedly waving it around and yelling threats. The RCMP arrived and located the suspects, arresting three males. All three were searched and one male was found in possession of a knife. An 18-year-old Langley male is facing charges of possession of a weapon that's dangerous to the public. The other two suspects were released without charges. There were no injuries reported.
Random stop results in drug arrests
On the afternoon of Aug. 15, Sea to Sky Traffic Services was using a licence plate identification system along Highway 99 at Alta Vista looking for unlicensed drivers when they came across a vehicle whose owner did not possess a licence. The police stopped the vehicle and discovered that it was being driven by the owner's friend, and detected an odour of marijuana.
Following protocols, the RCMP arrested the male for possession and searched his backpack, where they found 11 flaps of what's believed to be cocaine plus a quantity of magic mushrooms. The vehicle was towed to the detachment and searched, with police finding additional drugs and paraphernalia, including methadone, marijuana, cocaine and mushrooms, plus a grinder, bong, scales, cellphones, iPods and cash.
The driver and passenger, 21- and 22-year-old Vancouver males, face charges of possession of a controlled substance.
Foot patrol results in drug charges
An 18-year-old from Chilliwack is facing several charges after a Whistler RCMP officer saw him with a beer can in line at a bar on Aug. 16. When the RCMP approached the male he fled, but was chased down and placed under arrest. A search found two flaps of cocaine in his wallet. He now faces charges for obstruction, consuming liquor in public and possession of a controlled substance.
Police review video to I.D. bike thief
Whistler RCMP will be releasing stills to the public soon to try to identify a suspect who broke into a secure bike locker on Painted Cliff lane overnight from Aug. 18.
The video shows the male cutting through a fence to gain entry, cutting a lock on the bike and breaking into a vehicle in the parking area.
The missing bike was a Specialized Big Hit, white with black birds on the frame.
