Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A non-profit bike shop that provides low-cost bikes to members of the Chilliwack community, as well as free bikes for those in need, has been broken into again. According to Steve Roukema, executive director of Chilliwack Restorative Justice, the Restorative Cycle bike shop was broken into at approximately 3:30 a.m. early Tuesday morning, November 28. Roukema told Fraser Valley Today that he received a call from the alarm company to advise him of the commercial burglary, adding that it was the fourth break-in in 2023.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Restorative Cycle bike shop

4th break-in at Restorative Cycle bike shop in Chilliwack just this year alone

Nov 28, 2023 | 10:57 AM

CHILLIWACK — A non-profit bike shop that provides low-cost bikes to members of the Chilliwack community, as well as free bikes for those in need, has been broken into again.

According to Steve Roukema, executive director of Chilliwack Restorative Justice, the Restorative Cycle bike shop was broken into at approximately 3:30 a.m. early Tuesday morning, November 28. Roukema told Fraser Valley Today that he received a call from the alarm company to advise him of the commercial burglary, adding that it was the fourth break-in in 2023.

No bikes were stolen during today’s break-in. The business has surveillance cameras.

Chilliwack RCMP Acting Sgt. Carmen Kiener, a media relations spokesperson for the detachment, said police received a report from Griffin Security about an alarm activation.

“We received a report from Griffin Security about an alarm caused by a broken window,” A/Sgt. Kiener said. “Upon attendance it was determined by members that no one had actually gained entrance to the store and no items were missing.  No physical evidence was located to further the investigation at this time.”

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Roukema says he plans to have bars installed on the exterior of the business to help prevent further break-ins. He says he has worked with the Chilliwack Community Policing office in the past to help implement anti-crime measures at the bike shop.

Restorative Cycle held its grand opening back in September 2023 with the goal of providing lower-cost bicycles for families and individuals that could use them, while raising funds for the work that Chilliwack Restorative Justice does in Chilliwack schools and the broader community.

The store hopes to offer a number services to the community and augment the bike auctions that CRJ has been doing for over a decade through both in-person and online auctions.

“The cost of new bicycles is out of reach for many families as well and those experiencing homelessness in Chilliwack rely on their bicycles for a transportation,” Roukema said in a news release back in September. “The Restorative Cycle shop will enable Chilliwack Restorative Justice to grow the online bike auction to be transformed into an in-person shop that enables people of low income to purchase used bikes.”