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Bicycle Thefts On The Rise

Bicycle Thefts On The Rise

Posted: 5:32 PM Jun 25, 2010
Reporter: Jodi Baker

 

From homes, garages and bike racks, it's happening more and more often. In some cases, thieves are cutting right through chains to steal bicycles.

 

Kelsey Davis spends most Fridays volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Her good heart didn't keep a thief from targeting her where she lives, a dorm on the UNO campus. "I had a long chain through both my tires and along the rack and I didn't really think it would be a problem while I was out of town."

 

When she got back on campus, she did have a problem. "Monday morning, I went out to get my bike because I was going to ride up to north campus to go to class and I noticed it wasn't there. I started freaking out."

 

What happened to Kelsey is part of a growing trend, according to police. “It's possibly because of the rise in use of bicycles that we are starting to see a rise in the theft of them as well,” said Omaha Police Officer Michael Pecha.

 

He said most were not locked up and stresses the importance of using chains, no matter where a bicycle is kept. "A lot of these bikes were stolen out of open garages, even out of bike racks off of cars."

 

As Kelsey learned, thieves can still cut right through many types of chains. "It was just really upsetting to me. I was very, very angry."

 

Fortunately for Kelsey, police nailed the suspect behind the theft of her $400 bike. "He ended up making $30 at a pawn shop for it."

 

She says investigators think the same person could be behind as many as 16 recent thefts. "I definitely would not have been able to get a new bike right now, so I'm really glad we were able to find it."

 

Kelsey's bike wouldn't have been found if she hadn't kept track of the serial number. That's crucial information, police say, whether it's a bike or a big-ticket item. It's a way they can take a pawn shop find and turn it into an arrest.

 

Police stress the importance of chaining and locking bicycles. Talk to a bicycle store about the most theft-proof models. While it may not be complete protection, it is a major deterrent.

 

To view this article go to:

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/97194309.html

Meets APBP Guidelines: Racks fully adhere to the guidelines for bike parking as written by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

 

Bike Friendly Containment: The rack captures the bikes tires in a well or cradle in such a way so that there is no wheel bending, yet the bike is secured enough to not slide or slip from its upright position.

 

Simple & Intuitive: Simple and intuitive racks exhibit few options for a cyclist to lock their bike. They offer minimal parking methods (front and back only) and minimize the possibility of securing a bike in an incorrect way that will cause unorganized or non-secure bike parking.

 

Security: The rack should be equipped with a feature (such as an arm or wing) to allow the bicycle to be locked to the rack with an external lock and a closed part of the bicycle frame, as well as offer the ability to lock the wheel, frame, and rack in unison.

 

Density: How well the rack contains and organizes large numbers of bikes in different configurations and locations while still keeping parking organized to allow cyclists sufficient access to their bikes.

 

Cost Per Bike: The approximate dollar amount an individual rack will cost in respect to how many bikes it will hold.

 

Cost Per Bike+Shipping: The approximate dollar amount an individual rack will cost in respect to how many bikes it will hold plus the cost of freight. Because different racks weigh more or less, and ship to and from different locations, the cost of freight varies and therefore can make a total purchase price more or less expensive than just averaging the cost per bike.