Nanaimo RCMP Const. Mark Long presents Cameryn White, 12, with his stolen bike. Long traced the bike’s ownership through Project 529 Garage and paid to have the bike repaired and refurbished before returning it to White. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo RCMP are crediting Project 529 Garage with helping reunite a 12-year-old with his stolen bike.

According to police, Cameryn White’s bicycle was stolen one night this past spring. Security camera video showed a blurry image of the thief entering the family’s back yard, cutting the bike’s lock and making off with the bike.

Even with the video footage, there was little that could be done and White faced a summer with no bike, but the bike and its young owner would ultimately be brought back together.

While on patrol Oct. 29, Const. Mark Long spotted a man pushing two bikes and a scooter and decided to have a chat with him. Long spotted a Garage 529 sticker on one of the bikes, so he checked the number and discovered it belonged to White and had been reported stolen.

The suspect told Long he’d found the bike, so Long seized it and took it to Nanaimo RCMP detachment. Upon inspection, the bike appeared to be in rough shape, so Long took it to a local bike shop and paid out of pocket to have it refurbished and repaired.

Police called White’s mother the next day so she could bring the boy down to the detachment and Long could present him with his bike.

“This a great story with an even better ending,” said Const Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release. “We’re not sure who was happier, Const. Long or Cameryn. Either way, it was a win-win for both and another reminder of the importance of taking five minutes out of your day and registering your bikes at Project 529.”

To find out more about Project 529 go to https://project529.com/garage.



photos@nanaimobulletin.com

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