Julie Jinkerson was at an encampment in the city recently when she noticed something alarming.
Outside one of the tents was a pile of bicycles, tires and frames. More than one person should be in possession of for personal use.
"We were visiting a friend at a homeless encampment and noticed a guy we witnessed stealing a bike a few days earlier," Jinkerson said.
"When we walked past his tent, we saw about a 30 bike chop shop set up."
Stealing bikes has become a common crime in the city.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service doesn't keep readily available statistics specifically for stolen bikes, but recognizes it's an issue, saying it's "not an infrequent occurrence throughout the region."
A rash of recent social media posts showing piles of disassembled bikes has some people angered by the ongoing problem.
"Anyone missing a bike?" Wayne Miller posted in the Preston Ontario Facebook group with photos of dozens of stripped down bikes in a wooded area, while Jinkerson also posted what she saw at the encampment in the Cambridge Ontario group.
There are over 180 comments and 200 reactions to the posts combined.
As frustrated as she is with the stolen property, Jinkerson is equally upset with the lack action.
"I was pissed off because two days prior the city was there to remove an outhouse they built," she said.
"Police were on scene and saw all the bikes but turned a blind eye to it and did nothing."
When contacted for comment about their responsibility in such situations, WRPS said there are systems in place.
"When officers come across a bike, or any item they believe to be stolen, the serial number can be checked using various search tools officers have access to," Chris Iden, public information officer for WRPS, said.
"If someone is found to be in possession of a reported stolen bike, then that person may be charged with possession of stolen property. It's important that bike owners have a way to remember what their serial number is, or unique descriptors of their bike in the event it's stolen and located."
As for the City of Cambridge, it directs any complaints of stolen property to the police.
If clean up is required on city property, it's the job of the operations team to deal with. Should it fall on private property, it then becomes a bylaw enforcement issue under the lot maintenance bylaw.
Jinkerson herself has been a victim of theft, having had two bikes and three guitars stolen from her property. She feels it's a symptom of a larger problem in the city that isn't being addressed.
She's even considering starting a petition to advocate for greater supports for residents experiencing homelessness and other issues she feels could lead to such behaviour.
"The city isn't doing enough to support people with mental health issues," Jinkerson said of the rate of homelessness. "Other cities have built housing, washrooms and shower facilities."
Blake Hetherington, owner of Grand River Cycle, agrees with Jinkerson saying the thefts are simply a byproduct of desperation.
"It’s definitely a problem and it’s the result of a bigger problem," Hetherington said.
"People are desperate to get their hands on something they can sell or trade."
Hetherington said he hears stories all the time from customers and people in the community about having bikes taken. It's at the point that he advises using a bike lock even if it's secured in a garage.
As for other preventative measures, he's hoping better parking infrastructure will be developed around the city but until that happens, he believes locking it up in a high traffic area can be beneficial as it can limit suspicious activity.
"The people it happens to are usually the ones who commute by bike," Hetherington said. "They're the ones that need their bike. A lot of people don't feel like their complaints are being heard."
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