Brussels police launch Facebook page to match stolen bikes with owners

Brussels-City/Ixelles police zone has launched a Facebook page in the hope of more easily finding the owners of stolen and abandoned bikes recovered by officers.

The page is called Veloflic Polbru and shows photo after photo of bikes found by the police in recent weeks.

“Thanks to the Facebook page, we are reaching more victims and we can open investigations thanks to their complaints,” a police inspector told Bruzz.

Users who recognise their bike are asked to send a Facebook message to the page administrator. Cyclists who haven’t had their national register number etched into their bike frame will be asked to provide a list of distinguishing characteristics so as to ascertain that the bike is theirs.

The Facebook page was created earlier this month after police found some 75 bikes that appeared to have been stolen during a house search in Ninove, Flemish Brabant, in June. The police still haven’t been able to match most of the bikes they found with their owners.

The police inspector interviewed by Bruzz also said that cyclists should take precautionary measures to discourage thieves. “Buy high-quality locks; use two locks rather than one if possible and be sure to register and mark your bike on MyBike.brussels – this will often make a thieve think twice,” he said.

Photo courtesy Veloflic Polbru

Written by Linda A. Thompson