Altona Police Chief Perry Batchelor tells us a new online bike registry service has been launched in the community.  Residents of Altona and Plum Coulee can now register their bikes online through the Altona Police Service web site.

All too often, recovered bikes cannot be returned to owners, because the serial number is not registered, and people do not contact the station to claim them.  

"People have got some huge investments in some of these bicycles. Not only that, but they are possessions that nobody wants to have lost or stolen," said Batchelor. "We are trying to help you to not be victimized."

The first reason behind the shift to online registry is people don't want to pay a fee for bicycle license plates, which the department had been offering for the past 20-25 years. Secondly, there has been a spike in bike thefts in the Pembina Valley, therefore, offering a free way for residents to protect their bikes made the most sense, according to Batchelor.