Centretown, Sandy Hill and the ByWard Market are the hot spots for bicycle thefts, with dozens of bicycles reported stolen in the three busy Ottawa neighbourhoods each year.
With bicycling weather expected to arrive in Ottawa this weekend, Ottawa police are encouraging people to register their bicycle with 529 Garage.
“By registering your bike, the information is available to us to help get your bike back to you if it’s found,” police said.
Statistics available on the Ottawa Police Service’s website show 1,413 bicycles were reported stolen across Ottawa in 2024, up from 1,321 bicycles reported stolen in 2023. Another 1,872 bicycles were reported “lost” last year, according to police.
Police say 329 lost and stolen bicycles were recovered in 2024.
Of the 1,413 bicycles reported stolen in Ottawa in 2024, 263 bicycles were reported stolen in Centretown, 99 bikes stolen in Sandy Hill-Ottawa East and 82 bicycles were stolen in the ByWard Market
In 2023, 161 bicycles were reported stolen in Centretown, 117 bicycles stolen in the ByWard Market and 109 in Sandy Hill.
More than 200 bicycles a year were reported stolen in Centretown in 2021 and 2022.
Ottawa police offer the following tips to protect your bicycle:
- Store your bicycle inside (a locked garage)
- Avoid locking your bike on the front porch or the side of your house
- If you live in an apartment or condo, store your bicycle in a designated secured area
- Invest in a proper bike lock, such as a U-Lock
- Use easy-to-see bike racks that are anchored properly
Here is a look at the hot spots for bicycle thefts in Ottawa over the past five years.
2024
- Centretown: 263 bicycles stolen
- Sandy Hill-Ottawa East: 99 bicycles stolen
- ByWard Market: 82 bicycles stolen
- Glebe-Dow’s Lake: 60 bicycles stolen
- West Centretown: 60 bicycles stolen
2023
- Centretown: 161 bicycles stolen
- ByWard Market: 117 bicycles stolen
- Sandy Hill-Ottawa East: 109 bicycles stolen
- Lowertown: 85 bicycles stolen
- Glebe-Dow’s Lake: 72 bicycles stolen
2022
- Centretown: 234 bicycles stolen
- Sandy Hill-Ottawa East: 140 bicycles stolen
- ByWard Market: 103 bicycles stolen
- Vanier North: 62 bicycles stolen
- Lowertown: 56 bicycles stolen
2021
- Centretown: 244 bicycles stolen
- Sandy Hill-Ottawa East: 120 bicycles stolen
- Lowertown: 98 bicycles stolen
- ByWard Market: 95 bicycles stolen
- West Centretown: 75 bicycles stolen
2020
- Centretown: 236 bicycles stolen
- Glebe-Dow’s Lake: 129 bicycles stolen
- West Centretown: 114 bicycles stolen
- Sandy Hill-Ottawa East: 84 bicycles stolen
- ByWard Market: 82 bicycles stolen
