Five bikes have been stolen on campus in the past few weeks.
Sunday night, university police services sent out a crime alert informing students about the thefts. The message said that two people suspected of stealing the bikes had been arrested, but that police were still searching for a third suspected thief, who the police believe lives locally.
“We’re trying to wrap up this investigation,” University Police Chief David Hendry told The Crow’s Nest. “We’re chasing down some leads to try to identify who this person is, and recover any additional property that may have been stolen.”
The purpose of the crime alert was to prompt bike owners to lock their bikes with a U-bolt type lock to ensure maximum security. Other chains and locks can be easily broken with bolt cutters, which were used in the thefts on campus, according to the alert.
Hendry said the area behind Residence Hall One is best for storing bikes, because it is well-lit and located near a Blue Emergency Phone, which students can use to immediately call police services. He advises students to only leave bikes in bright, safe locations.
“We really sent out the alert as a crime prevention message and to offer options, and to encourage folks to call the police if they see anything suspicious,” Hendry explained.
However, just reporting missing bikes isn’t always helpful. Often, bikes aren’t even registered. Police officers then only have a visual description to use to locate the bike. If bikes are registered, police can identify it by simply locating the registration sticker.
Registering a bike is a quick process that requires one visit to the police services office with your student I.D. in hand. They are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
