Students Love Their Bikes, Suggestions On Theft Reduction

As a student, you love your bike.

That is extremely understandable. Not only is it your primary mode of transportation, its fantastic exercise and can provide you with a strong sense of fun and freedom.

If it is ever stolen, it could be devastating.

Unfortunately many bikes are being stolen from all types of neighborhoods and campuses.

Let’s check out a few sources that speak to this subject and may help you keep the bike that you so dearly love.

The educational site nationalbikeregistry.com shares, “The 1995 Uniform Crime Report states that bicycle theft is one of only two categories of larceny and theft that is increasing in this country.

Most bicycles are stolen from places owners assume are safe. Experienced thieves can take even locked bikes in about 10-20 seconds. Bolt cutters will cut most chains and cables, and U-style locks are broken by inserting scissors-style car jack inside the U and cranking.”

Some extremely helpful information is found at police.colorado.edu.

Apparently bikes and bicycle parts including seats and quick release wheels are in big demand and thieves are well equipped and well organized.

If a bike is parked or locked at a location other than these school approved bike racks, like being attached to a tree or street sign, a theft is more likely to occur.

Thieves look for the quick and easy bikes to steal rather than the more difficult steal. To avoid bike theft one of the first things you can do is lock your bike at a university-approved bike rack.

The police have found that in the vast majority of bicycle thefts, bicycles were either unlocked, improperly locked, or locked with inadequate locking devices such as lightweight cables or chains or low-quality U-lock devices.

A high quality U-lock device is not bullet proof but seems to be most effective.[adToAppearHere]

You should always carry a secure lock whenever you plan to leave your bicycle unattended.

It’s a good idea to lock your bicycle through its frame and both wheels to an approved bicycle parking rack, preferably one with a thick frame.

Please lock all free parts of the bicycle as well or take them with you.

If you lock only the front wheel to the bike lock you may return to find your bike gone and only that wheel remaining. Leave your bicycle in highly visible, well-lit areas and if possible avoid leaving your bike locked overnight.

Please register your bike with the school that you attend.[adToAppearHere]

You can also register your bike online. Registering discourages theft and aids in identification should your bike get stolen. In addition, any personalization on your bike (stickers, markings, etc.) should be documented and kept in case your bike is stolen.

You can check out the National Bike Registry or BikeRegistry.com.

This will make it easier for police to identify. It is suggested that all of this information should be stored and saved along with purchase receipts, manufacturer’s information, and a photograph of the bicycle.

Do you need back up?

The informative site centurycycles.com has an additional thought on bicycle theft. “Many bike commuters and other people who need to leave their bikes unattended all day on a regular basis have an additional bike that they use just for this situation. They use their “good” bike for races, training, and group rides, and an older, “beater” bike for commuting. Some people disguise their beater bike by removing the manufacturer names and logos, or covering them with spray paint or duct tape. These and similar tactics make your bike less noticeable and less attractive to thieves, and also make it less heart-breaking when, worse comes to worse, it ever is stolen.”

Understandably your bike is very important to you. While it’s impossible to make it 100 percent theft proof, by following some of the suggestions above it may reduce the chances of you being a victim.

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Sources: brainyquote.com, Wikipedia, fciwomenswrestling2.com, FCI Elite Competitor, photos thank you Wikimedia Commons.

https://police.colorado.edu/crime-prevention-safety/preventing-bike-theft

http://centurycycles.com/tips/5-tips-preventing-bike-theft-pg1179.htm

https://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/crime.html