Police report surge in campus bike thefts

September 25, 2006 —

The University Police Department is urging students to keep an eye on their bicycles after a rash of bike thefts across campus.

According to University Police Chief Ron Trepkowski, five bikes have been reported stolen since Sept. 14 from the University Village, Living Center North, Living Center South, and from outside the library.

Trepkowski says the thefts are not the work of one person, rather separate incidents where individuals are taking advantage of students who do not adequately lock up their bicycles.

To protect against possible theft, Trepkowski suggests locking the bike up when not riding it, even if the bike will only be unattended for a short while.

He also suggests marking the bike in some way to distinguish it from others, such as inscribing initials or a date of birth somewhere on the frame.

In addition, Trepkowski encourages anyone with a bike to write down its make, description, and serial number to aid in recovery in the event of a theft.

Trepkowski says there appears to be an increase in the number of bikes on campus this year, one possible cause for the increased thefts. He also says that some of the bikes are stolen only momentarily, with the bike being taken, ridden across campus, and then left behind to later be recovered.