

Chris Kitching, cp24.com





Toronto police have charged a man with theft-related offences after a woman spotted an ad for her stolen bicycle on the Internet.

Police said the suspect, who was arrested during an undercover sting Saturday, is accused of selling stolen bikes to people on the web.

The scheme began to unravel when a woman notified police about the ad for her bike, which was posted on a website.

An undercover officer made contact with the seller and they agreed to meet.

After the officer bought a bicycle during the meeting, the suspect was arrested at his home near Gerrard Street East and Main Street in the city's east end, police said Tuesday.

Police seized 12 bicycles when they searched the suspect's home.

Of those, five have been confirmed as stolen, but the seven others are believed to have been stolen, police said in a news release.

Christopher Mowers, 40, of Toronto has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime. He is scheduled to appear in court in December.

Investigators are now trying to identify the owners of the remaining seven bikes.

Police released photos of the bikes Tuesday morning, and they are asking people whose bikes have been stolen to take a look at them.

Anyone who believes their bicycle is one of the seven is asked to call police at 416-808-5500.

Police are also urging people to register their bicycles because it assists in returning stolen bicycles to their rightful owners.

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