WATCH: Communitech bike thief caught on camera

An unlucky cyclist learned the hard way why police so often use the ubiquitous anti-theft slogan"lock it or lose it," when a thief walked up to his unlocked bike and rode off with it.

The incident was captured by security cameras insideKitchener'sTannerycomplexlast month, which is home to Communitech, during the Victoria Day long weekend. The video was posted to YouTubeon June 5, 2016 by a user named "Phillip Hutchenson," whohopes that the promise of a$100 reward might prompt someone to identify the thief.

The 23-year-old owner of the bike refused to be publicly identified, but told CBC Newsthe bike was worth about $1,400 and was stolen from a storageroom, which he believed was secure.

Communitech spokesman Chris Plunkettcalledthe theft "unfortunate" in an email to CBC Newsand notedthat the room where the theft occurred is a public area.

"We encourage our tenants and guests to either lock their bikes, or use the bicycle cage,which is accessible only with a security pass," he wrote.