November 23, 2025 - (Vancouver, B.C.) Project 529, the world’s leading bike registration platform, today announces the launch of 529 Detective, a new technology designed to disrupt the online stolen bike market and improve the chances of recovering stolen bikes.
529 Detective allows bike owners and authorities to quickly search digital ad listings, making it harder for thieves to sell stolen bikes and easier for owners to recover them.
“At Project 529, we believe in tech for good. The Project 529 mission has always been to fight bike crime, but now, with 529 Detective, we can take the fight a big step further by weakening criminals’ ability to easily sell stolen bikes online,” said Lara Ferroni, Project 529 Founder and CEO.
The service is already helping riders in both Canada and the U.S. recover their bikes. Frode Skulbru of North Vancouver, B.C., shared this experience: “I found my bike listed on an online marketplace and was able to use my registration to get it back. The 529 Detective is worth every penny. 529 found a listing, we identified where it was based on the pictures, and the police helped us retrieve it!”
Bike theft is a significant problem across North America. According to FBI data, nearly 150,000 bicycles were reported stolen in the U.S. in 2023, with losses totalling over $148 million.
Project 529, which was originally piloted with the Vancouver Police Department, is used by law enforcement agencies throughout British Columbia and widely across Canada. Since a Vancouver pilot project launched in 2015, bike thefts in the city have declined by 70 per cent, thanks to the collaboration of the VPD, City of Vancouver and Project 529.
“Registering with Project 529 is proven to reduce theft and increase the chance of your stolen bike being recovered,” says Rob Brunt, Chief Outreach Officer at Project 529 and former Vancouver police officer. “The Bike Detective is another effective tool to help cyclists locate bikes on online marketplaces, which have become a well-used channel for bike thieves.”
Today, almost 220,000 bikes are currently registered to the Project 529 database British Columbia – and more than 3 million searchable bikes worldwide.
529 Detective is currently available in the USA and Canada. If your bicycle has been stolen, set Detective to work here.
About Project 529 and 529 Detective
Founded in 2013, Project 529 has become a cornerstone in the fight against the global bike theft epidemic. Through its flagship service, 529 Garage, it offers a comprehensive solution for cyclists, law enforcement, bike shops, universities and organizations to consolidate bike information through a universal, searchable bike database and toolset. This free-to-register service simplifies bicycle registration to under five minutes, hosting over 3 million searchable bikes – making it the world’s largest tool for aiding in the recovery and return of stolen bicycles. Register your bike or e-bike online for free at project529.com or through the 529 Garage app.
529 Detective is an automated tool that searches online marketplaces locally and internationally for stolen bikes, providing the rightful owners with matches of listings that closely match the stolen bike in a daily simplified view. 529 Detective can be purchased here.
