November 24, 2004

BICYCLE THEFTS

During the month of November, College Police received reports that seven bicycles had been stolen at San Diego City College.

Bicycle theft is an on-going problem. If you haven't already, you should record the make, model and serial number of your bicycle and store this information in a safe place. It's also a good idea to license your bicycle. The San Diego Community College Police currently provides licenses for college students, staff and faculty free of charge (funding courtesy of our Parking Services Program). When you license your bicycle, all the information about your bicycle is recorded and kept at the police department. Secured bicycle lockers are available at San Diego City College for both semester and day use. Contact the College Police in room T-211 for information on this service.

Experts estimate that it takes 7 seconds to steal a locked bicycle.
Less than 3% of unregistered stolen bikes are returned to their owners.

Source: National Bike Registry

What you can do

While it's not possible to make your bicycle 100% theft-proof, there are some simple steps you can take to increase the security of your bicycle and its parts:

Always lock your bike regardless of how long you will be away from it.
Use a case-hardened "U" lock; cable locks are easily cut. Position your bike frame and wheels so that you fill or take up as much open space within the U-portion of the lock as possible. The tighter the lock up, the harder it is for thieves to use tools to attack your lock.
For maximum protection, use both a cable-and-lock as well as a U-type lock. Thieves will seldom carry the tools necessary to break both types of locks.
Lock your bike in a well-lit area.
Lock your bike in an area that can be seen by passing pedestrians or motorists.
Don't leave your bike locked in a rack overnight.
If you have quick-release hubs, don't forget to lock your wheels and seat-post.
Replace quick-release mechanisms with regular nut-and-bolt ones.
Report all thefts to the police

If you have information about crimes which have occurred, or may occur on or near campus, you may report it by calling College Police at (619) 388-6405, the San Diego Police at (619) 531-2000 or crimes stoppers at (619) 235-TIPS. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

David Worden

Chief of Police