Nearly 50 Bird Canada electric scooters have been reported stolen from the streets of Windsor, Ontario, in recent weeks, as per the micromobility company’s general manager. Patrick Graham mentioned that the thieves have been targeting the scooters for parts, especially the lithium-ion batteries, which have appeared on the black market previously. He expressed gratitude towards the police for their cooperation in addressing the issue.
Despite the thefts, which Graham acknowledged as significant given the company’s fleet of around 400 scooters in Windsor, he stated that their ability to serve the city is not severely impacted. To compensate for the stolen scooters, Bird has relocated scooters from other locations to maintain operations in Windsor.
After a temporary pause due to the conclusion of its pilot contract, Bird reintroduced scooters and e-bikes to Windsor earlier this summer, allowing users to rent them through a mobile app and return them to designated parking spots across the city.
While Bird operates in over 20 Canadian cities, Graham highlighted that theft incidents have been more prevalent in Windsor compared to other locations. He attributed the spike in thefts to organized crime groups capable of dismantling the vehicles rapidly and selling the components, particularly the batteries, on the black market or to unwitting recyclers.
Despite the challenges posed by theft, Graham expressed confidence in eventually resolving the issue, citing past successes in apprehending thieves. Windsor police recently sought the public’s assistance following the theft of seven Bird scooters, one of which was recovered vandalized in a downtown area.
Local businesses selling mobility devices containing lithium-ion batteries were contacted regarding theft incidents, but none reported similar occurrences. Jessica Senay, a general manager at Comfort Mobility and Home Health Care, emphasized the importance of securing valuable products and recommended insuring them to deter theft.