Yellowknife (July 21/04) - The RCMP know all too well the story of the Makaro family. It's one they call "a fairly substantial problem."

The story starts about one month ago when Wade Makaro's bike was stolen from the family's backyard. Then on July 10 his son Davis' bike disappeared.

Both bikes were stolen from right outside the Makaro's home in broad daylight. Davis' was taken while he stopped home to get a drink.

Cpl. Ken Cooper, acting Operational NCO with the Yellowknife RCMP, says the RCMP has a large number of recovered bikes in its airport hangar.

Summer students are working to catalogue them and arrange viewings. If they are not claimed, the bikes will likely end up being sold at Rotary Club auctions.

"I can't give specific numbers," he says, "but I can tell you there are a lot (of bike thefts)."

Cooper urges cyclists to keep a record of their bike's serial number.

"If we have serial numbers we can match (the bike) up and return it," he says.

Cooper does not believe people generally steal bikes to ride them continuously, but rather on impulse.

The bikes may be used to get somewhere, and then abandoned. With luck, these bikes will be turned in to the RCMP.

Further, there is a chance that stolen bikes will end up in the hangar even if the RCMP is supplied with the serial number, so victims who do not hear about the recovery of their bike may still get it back.

Working to buy another bike

Davis, however, is working to buy another bike -- his third.

He gave his first bike, which he bought with his own money, to his seven-year-old sister Talina when he bought his second.

Since the theft, the has been working hard again, looking after neighbours' homes and gardens.

Davis' mother, Heather, explained that she has been trying to teach him the value of hard work by having him save for the bikes.