It’s summertime and we’re all out riding our bikes, right? The last thing we want is for our bikes to get stolen. Burglary detectives see stolen bikes being sold within hours of the theft on e-bay; Craigslist; in pawn shops and even on the street (one thief was selling stolen bikes on the Burke Gilman Trail). Here are some crime prevention tips from Seattle Police:
- Write down the serial number of your bike and keep the number in a safe place. Look for the serial number on your bike’s head tube, seat post tube, under the crank, or on the frame’s rear wheel mount.
- Take a photograph of your bicycle.
- If your bike is stolen, call SPD to report the crime and give the call-taker the serial number and any other identifying marks on your bicycle. Try to get a police incident number that you can use for your insurance claim.
- Always lock your bike, the whole bike (through the frame and both wheels). Use more than one kind of lock if possible. Typically, bolt cutters are used to cut through the locking devices. Not all locks are equal, and you get what you pay for with locks. If the lock’s manufacturer offers a warranty or insurance, register the lock and get the serial number of it.
- Lock your bike to something permanent. Lock it in a visible spot and someplace nearby.
- Lock your bike even if you are parking it on a porch; in the basement, the garage or storage unit. Storing your bike inside is preferred.
- As always, use 9-1-1 to report anything suspicious.
Another way to reduce this type of crime is to never buy stolen bikes. If the deal is too good to be true, it probably is stolen.
These tips are brought to us by Terrie Johnston, our Crime Prevention Coordinator.
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