Denver has seen 8,659 cases of larceny in 2023 so far, keeping direct pace with the 8,831 year-to-date in 2022 and 8,813 in 2021. Yearly totals of theft have spiked up to over 10,000 each year since 2019, with 2023 shaping in that direction.

Legendary skier and 2018 Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame inductee, Chris Anthony, found himself a victim on Monday when a man allegedly broke into his apartment building’s garage at The Pinnacle at City Park South and stole from over 10 vehicles. Among the loot, the suspect allegedly took off with Anthony’s one-of-a-kind Lemond Bicycles road bicycle, estimated at a value of $20,000.

Anthony said he noticed the possible theft around 11 a.m. Monday while entering the garage at the apartment building. He saw broken glass and later found broken windows; someone had broken into his vehicle.

“It was violent,” Anthony said. “Someone had broken things apart. Tore up paper. Tore into the fuse box.”

Along with some cash and clothes, Anthony noticed that his bicycle had been stolen. The bike was a collector’s item, signed by three-time Tour de France winner, Greg LeMond. Only 100 were made and Anthony has No. 33.

Anthony added that when attempting to contact the police, he was sent into a “loop of being passed around.” He claims that the officials he spoke with didn’t seem to care, something he believes has led to the increase in thefts over the past few years.

“It’s so apparent the arrogance in which this person came into our building. The accountability is so low now that people like this are just running amok. Why not? No one is going to come after you. No one is going to do anything,” Anthony said. “I grew up in Denver. I’ve watched it rise and fall. This current decline is significant.”

While the Denver Police Department couldn’t discuss an ongoing investigation, they said, “The Denver Police Department and its officers work very hard to help victims of crimes such as this find the person or people responsible and in an effort to recover and return their stolen item(s).”

Denver has had 993 bicycle thefts reported this year as of Monday, according to Denver Crimes, which averages to 95.5 per month, a lower number than years prior.

The city averaged 127.2 per month in 2022 and 154.8 per month in 2021.

DPD said that they recommend using the 529 Garage platform — a bike registration program that teamed up with DPD earlier this year.

“Owners can document important information about their bike, such as the serial number and photos, and the system is used by DPD to help identify lost/stolen bikes that are recovered and return the bicycle to its rightful owner,” a DPD representative said. “In addition to reporting a bike stolen to DPD, owners can post on 529 Garage that their bike was stolen and the community who uses the app can keep an eye out for the bike, as well.”

Anthony said his scooter was stolen on Colfax last year while he was in a restaurant. He said he told cops that had been standing across the street and they said, “that happens around here.”

“This isn’t just about me,” Anthony added. “This is happening more and more and more. We’re just allowing it.”

DPD began working with Project 529 in May of this year. The 529 Garage registration database replaced the department’s old system, allowing people to register bikes via the platform and share information with the police and other bike enthusiasts.

Project 529 previously teamed up with Vancouver, BC, Canada, in 2015 and saw bike thefts decrease by 30% in the first two years, according to the company.

A significant downswing in bike thefts from the system implementation have yet to be seen, but may begin to take affect within the next year.