Protect Your Bicycle from Thieves

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas students, faculty and staff – hundreds of them – ride bicycles on campus. Nearly 2000 bikes have been registered with the U of A Parking and Transit office in the past few years – almost 400 of them this year alone. Bicycles are a fun, relatively inexpensive and definitely sustainable way to travel around campus, while getting exercise and fresh air at the same time.

But bicycles are also targets for thieves. University of Arkansas Police have had several bike thefts reported since the start of the semester. Crime Prevention Officer Brett Waddell has compiled a list of tips to help you protect your bike from being stolen.

1. Use U-locks to secure your bike (some U-locks come with a guarantee that if your bike is stolen, the company will replace it).

2. Secure the U-lock to the frame of the bicycle rather than the wheel.

3. Don’t secure your bicycle to street signs or trees, especially in dark areas. 

4. Cover or scratch over the names of expensive brands.

5. Register your bicycle with university Parking and Transit to provide a record of your bike. Take a picture of your bike and keep a copy of the serial number in case of theft.

6. Add your own numbers in a place on the bike that only you know; scratch or paint them on a hidden area of the bicycle. 

7. Take a picture of your bicycle. 

“None of these tips can guarantee the bicycle won’t be stolen, but they can reduce the chances,” said Officer Waddell. “They can also help police locate and identify your bicycle if a thief takes it.”