Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News

Media Credit: File - The Battalion [Click to enlarge]

While caught up in the frantic morning rush to class, Becca Wilson, a sophomore sociology major, was suddenly struck with a sick feeling in her gut. Her bike, which many find to be a necessity to get to class, was gone.

"It's bright pink and pretty hard to miss," she said. "I just knew it was gone."

Soon, many more may find themselves in a similar situation. With the holiday season near, the spirit of giving is in the air but so is the spirit of needing. "Crooks need spending money for Christmas and go where the money is ­- college campuses," said Master Officer Kristi Hosea of the College Station Police Department.

The bicycle , for many, is an essential to their daily lives. "My bike's everything to me. I hate walking. If it were to be stolen, I'd be devastated," said Alex Arispe, a sophomore business major.

With less people on campus, CSPD expects an increase in opportunity for stolen bikes. This increase, coupled with an increase in the need for money for the holidays, will lead to a higher frequency in bicycle theft.

Despite the recent criminal activity, many students don't feel like their bike is in real danger. Tara Bradley, a freshmen business major, said it's usually just apathy that keeps her from bothering to lock up her bike.

"I have a pretty hardcore bike lock that I just don't use," she said.

Bradley is one of many students who use alternative strategies in preventing bike theft. She said her bike is simply too old for someone to want to steal.

"I don't lock up my bike because I've had it since seventh grade and I don't think anyone would want to steal a six-year-old bike - I mean, it's too small for me," she said.

"I fake-lock my bike," Arispe said, describing the process of wrapping his bike in the chain but not actually locking it. However, he does plan on keeping it in his dorm over the holidays.

Overall, many just don't feel threatened. "I'm actually more worried [about my bike] around my dorm [than the rest of campus]. I walk out and see bikes in trees. Around campus I'm not worried at all," said Anthony Zachman, a biomedical science major, referring to the Northside tradition of placing bikes that are not locked to bike racks in trees.

Apathy and carelessness are not wise, said Hosea. Hosea said that 10 bikes were stolen in the last two weeks and that 46 misdemeanor thefts had been reported since Oct. 1. She expects the criminal push to continue until students return in January.

Hosea suggests students have their driver's license engraved on their bike. "If a suspected bicycle thief is stopped by police and the bicycle is engraved with a driver's license number, the police can contact the owner while the subject is still in their presence. An arrest can quickly be made," she said.

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