Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Kevin Alexander [Click to enlarge]

Seventy-six bicycles have been stolen since students returned to class in January.

There were 33 bike thefts in January and 43 in February. The total cost of bike thefts is more than $22,000 with the average cost of each bike being approximately $300, according to the University Police Department.

"It doesn't matter what kind of bike it is. If they want it, they'll steal it," said Officer Kristi Hosea of the University Police Department.

She said the thieves could be students, local criminals or out-of-town groups that prey on the student population.

"They can get small enough bolt cutters to fit in big baggy pants. They're very inconspicuous," Hosea said.

Ways of prevention are being aware of surroundings and noticing and reporting suspicious behavior.

"Walking through the bike racks is not normal. They're shopping. They're trying to decide which bike to steal. What's normal is going to the bike rack, getting your bike and leaving," she said.

The criminals can blend in, she said, by wearing an A&M baseball cap or carrying a backpack, but she warned to not let appearance be a deterrent from natural instincts.

"You'll see them when they're 'shopping.' They'll fiddle with the locks. It's called fingering the locks. If you see them do it to one bike and then another, then you'll know they're shopping, so if you can see them handling various bike locks, looking around, that's a sign," Hosea said.

There is no specific target area that bikes have been taken from.

"They're hitting major bike racks or large bicycle parking areas like residential halls, Blocker, the MSC and engineering complexes like Zachry," said Sgt. Allan Baron of the UP.

If someone is a witness to a bicycle theft or feel there may be a crime, police encourage individuals to call the police at the non-emergency dispatch number.

"When calling, make a mental note of what the person looks like, a clothing description, what the bike looks like, and their direction of travel, what direction they're leaving in," Hosea said.

If a student's bike is stolen, police encourage reporting it so they can get a general idea of when and where the crimes are occurring.

"Students are our eyes and ears. We want them to call us and let us know what's going on," Hosea said.

While students may recognize the bike thefts occur, attitudes do not reflect it.

"I keep a simple lock on it. It's a cheap bike, so I feel safe. I'd just find another one [if it were stolen]. I wouldn't report it," said Aaron Bevill, senior nuclear engineering major.

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