Take Precautions as Bike Thefts Increase

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Unclaimed bikes

Some of the hundreds of stolen and/or unclaimed/found bicycles currently held at our property & evidence section.

Take precautions to protect your bicycles from thieves. Crime analysts report an approximate 36% increase in the number of stolen bicycles when comparing similar time periods over the prior year:

  • September 1, 2011-August 31, 2012: 265 bicycle thefts.
  • September 1, 2012-August 31, 2013: 361 bicycle thefts.

In the McLean area, alone, there have been 86 bicycles stolen. Many of the bikes are taken when residents leave their garage doors open. Thieves simply seize the opportunity, take the bikes, and walk away.

Crime Prevention Officers suggest bicycle owners take the following precautions to help prevent becoming a victim:

  • Close garage doors.
  • Invest in a hardened steel U-lock.
  • Don’t leave bicycles outside for days, or nights, on end. Thieves may be watching and may target “unused” bicycles.
  • Consider installing motion sensor lights or alarms on your property.
  • Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number; this will aid in recovery should your bike be stolen.
  • Consider registering your bicycle on the National Bike Registry.
  • Report the stolen item online.
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