Police make two arrests in June theft of cross-country fundraising cyclists’ bikes

On June 22, Thomas Clark and Valentin Duquenne embarked on a fundraising cycling journey across Canada to support men's mental health. During their trip, their four bikes were stolen in Winnipeg and Calgary. On July 24, two bicycles were stolen in Winnipeg from a parked vehicle. Just over a month later, police arrested two men for the theft, recovering one bicycle.

The bicycles were valued at approximately $15,000. The cyclists, friends from Moncton, N.B., had planned to cycle over 6,000 kilometers and raise $250,000 for men's mental health initiatives through Movember Canada. They completed the journey in Victoria on August 11, raising just under $16,000, which was well below their target.

The second set of stolen bikes was taken in Calgary when the cyclists were already en route home to New Brunswick. Police estimate about 3,000 bikes are stolen annually in Winnipeg. The service encourages cyclists to register their bikes with Project 529 to enhance recovery chances if they are stolen.