The Bike Index
Bicycle Theft
Having your bike stolen can be incredibly frustrating. Whether you use it to commute, exercise, or just enjoy Calgary’s pathways, losing your bike can feel personal. And replacing it can be expensive. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to register your bike.
The Calgary Police Service has partnered with Bike Index to help return stolen bikes to their rightful owners.
Bike Index is a free, voluntary, universal bike registration database used by bike owners, bike shops and police services. If a registered bike is stolen, the owner can log in and mark it as missing. If police recover the bike, or if a potential buyer searches the serial number, the Bike Index listing will show that the bike has been reported stolen and alert anyone looking it up.
In Calgary alone, more than 50,000 people have registered their bikes through Bike Index, and hundreds of stolen bikes, worth an estimated $330,000 have been returned to their owners.
Register Your Bike with Bike Index
Registering your bike is free and only takes a few minutes. Once it’s registered, you’ll have easy access to documentation about your bike, including the serial number and identifying details, which can help police return it to you if it’s recovered.
When registering your bike, you’ll be asked to provide:
- The make, model, colour and serial number of your bike
- Other defining characteristics of the bike
- Photos of your bike, if possible
- Your phone number or email address
Having this information saved in Bike Index makes it much easier for police to confirm ownership if your bike is found.
Bike Index Registration Stickers
Once you’ve registered your bike, you can also receive a free Bike Index sticker from the Calgary Police Discovery Centre or CPS district offices or other participating partners.
Your Bike Index sticker:
- Acts as a unique identifier for your bike
- Allows anyone with a smartphone to connect to your registration page
- Serves as a visible deterrent for potential thieves
If Your Bike Is Stolen
If your bike goes missing, take these steps right away:
- Report the theft to police.
- Report it as lost or stolen on Bike Index.
Updating your Bike Index listing lets police and potential buyers know the bike has been stolen if they search the serial number.
Found Your Stolen Bike Listed for Sale?
Personal safety is also important in the workplace, especially if you work late or in a large building.
Many stolen bikes end up being sold online. If you believe you’ve found your bike for sale:
- Take screenshots of the advertisement or write down the ad details, including the ad number and seller information.
- Contact police immediately at 403-266-1234 or visit a district office.
- Make sure you have the ownership information from your Bike Index account.
For your safety and to allow police to properly investigate, do not contact the seller or arrange to meet them yourself.
Found a Bike?
If you find a bike in Calgary, you no longer need to report it through the non-emergency line or at a police district office.
Instead, submit the details through ifoundabike.ca. A CPS employee will arrange to pick up the bike within three to five business days.
Registering your bike only takes a few minutes, but it can make a big difference in helping police return it if it’s ever stolen.
More Crime Prevention Resources
Stay one step ahead: check out more tools, tips, and crime‑prevention resources.
