Rash of bike thefts plagues University of Michigan campus
Stolen bikes continue to be a problem on U-M's campus.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com
At least 67 bicycles have been stolen so far in 2012 as of last week. That compares to 50 bike thefts in all of 2011, said U-M Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane Brown
As of May 14, 28 bikes had been stolen. So, in three and a half months, 39 bikes have been taken.
The types of bikes stolen range from older models not worth more than a few bucks to mountain bikes worth hundreds — maybe thousands — of dollars. Central campus is a prime location for bicycle thievery, but so is north campus, Brown said.
But there is a way for bicyclists to fight back.
"Most of these thefts can be prevented if owners would use sturdier bike locks," said Joe Piersante, interim chief of U-M police, in a news release.
Police recommend use of U-bolt locks rather than flexible cable locks that thieves can easily cut. The U-bolt locks are made from stronger materials and pose more difficulties to potential thieves, police said.
Many of the suspects suffer from substance abuse problems, police said.
"They're reselling the bike," Brown said. "That's another reason for a person to retain their serial numbers."
Most people do not write down numbers that correspond to their bikes, but they should, police said.
"When we recover a bicycle from a thief or resale shop, we can return it to its rightful owner if we have the serial number listed in a larceny report," Piersante said.
U-M police hope to rein in bike thefts by starting a registration program akin to their laptop program in the next few months. The program would not only collect the serial numbers of bikes, but would also provide stickers, which have worked as a successful deterrent with laptops, Brown said.
"We're had a very, very limited number of registered laptops stolen," she added.
If anyone sees suspicious behavior in and around campus bike racks, please contact the Department of Public Safety immediately at (734)763-1131 or text 377911.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
FormerMichRes
Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 10:24 a.m.
A tip for Ann Arbor's finest: try interviewing some of the upstanding "residents" of Liberty Plaza Park. I walked by there a couple of months ago with my wife while in town visiting friend and relatives. We were heckled and panhandled for a couple of blocks until we got past the old Border's store. That's a fine welcome for visitors to AA.
yaybikes
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
My bicycle was stolen on W Liberty early this summer. I had it secured with a U-lock. Still did not prevent the theft. I did learn a lesson to never leave my bike locked over night. Not even a single night. It is sad to think that theft is this prevalent on campus and downtown.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:55 p.m.
It would make sense to have cyclists register with the police department, and be required to use license plates. Yes. A fee would probably be charged. My kids didn't have plates in Indiana. But the local police did etch a serial number on the bike. I'm for plates, personally.
Stan Hyne
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 3 p.m.
An occasional security camera might reduce thefts, or reduce free thieves.
Ron Granger
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
When buying a U-lock, get a small one. Just large enough for the frame tube, the rear wheel and smallish anchor posts. They are not as versatile or convenient as the larger ones, but they are much more secure. ALL of the larger u-locks are much easier to compromise because their large size makes it easier to use tools on them for leverage.
Robert Granville
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
oJohn why would you recommend U-Locks? Did you research this story yourself? I know for certain that a few of the bikes stolen were locked with U-locks. A few friends have walked home from work and school very angry about their stolen, U-locked bikes. This is not about the strength of your lock. It's about the tenacity of the thieves. I don't doubt that someone may be rounding bikes up to make a living. Most thieves don't come so well prepared to break any lock they may find.
breadman
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
I TRIED to report this and the neighbor kids are still riding up and down the street on a new day just about it everyday. So U of M has done on looking out for the bike robbers?
Ron Granger
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
Take photos. What you describe in itself is not sufficient, unfortunately. But with a history of photos, and some tenacity on your part, maybe something will be done. Find out where they live, try and peak in their garage as you drive by.
Ron Granger
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:25 a.m.
"Rash of bike thefts plagues University of Michigan campus" We need a cure for this rash and plague before it becomes an epidemic.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
I fail to see, from a mathematical perspective, why one additional bike theft every two weeks constitutes a "rash" of thieving. If you want to cut crime, put criminals in jail. It's really fairly simple.
Pizza Man
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
I am not the smartest person in the room, but I see lots of bike unlocked bikes in parking lots of the student housing. On a resent "Ride Along", with the A2 police I was told that most of the thefts on campus are do to students leaving their apartment open and having lap tops stolen that are in plain view of walking through the front door. So, lock you bike up!
PineyWoodsGuy
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
Duuh! Is law enforcement aware that: 1. Many parents have Home Owners insurance that covers the "theft" of their child's bike, even if the child & bike are away at college. 2. Bikes are bulky and difficult to stuff into a small car and the end of the college year when the students go home to mom & dad. 3. Bike theft ZOOMS UPWARD in late May and early June. Like I say: Duuh!
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 4:52 a.m.
...as it's not "worth" messing up their insurance rates.
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 4:50 a.m.
A bike worth dumping to claim on insurance wouldn't be worth claiming. There are deductibles to be met - mine is $1000. Most people I know wouldn't bother making a claim for some minor loss, even if they could get a few hundred dollars, as it's not messing up their insurance rates.
xmo
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
If the City of Ann Arbor keeps expanding the number of bike lanes are they contributing to the problem? "Many of the suspects suffer from substance abuse problems" so the police know who are stealing the bikes but cannot arrest them and put them in jail? Are they from Camp Take Notice? or the Delonis Center?
Itchy
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
I can imagine that AA voters are livid after experiencing this amount of theft.
Nancy Shore
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
The piece of information that is missing here is if there are actually more people who are biking to the UM campus. If there are significantly more people biking to the campus, then the increase in thefts may actually be proportionally less than it was before.
Mick52
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
That is correct Nancy but whether it is the rate or just numbers, it is up and that is bad. I did my Master's thesis on bicycling and how is affects an array of social problems and bike theft is common in published research on the three main barriers of getting people on bikes, a destination barrier. In NYC they say the numbers are up 25% from last year with four and a half months to go: http://nypress.com/nyc-bike-thefts-up-25-percent/ Rates are hard to figure anyway. Bike thefts are not commonly reported. I like your program of the bike lockers, but I think Ann Arbor should have put a McDonald's type facility in the new parking garage. Perfect location for commuters right next to the bus station. I am very antsy of my bike being stolen. I would bike commute, but only if I know my bike is very secure. If I had to park it outside at a typical bike rack, that would drive me nuts for 8 hours. We need Lojack for bikes. I see that is coming: http://gomeansgo.org/2012/02/14/lojack-for-your-bicycle/
julieswhimsies
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
There are a lot of bicycle commuters in Portland, Oregon. A lot of business have a small indoor garage for bikes. I seriously think the A2 person who is in charge of transportation should consult with the transportation person in Portland to make it safer for bicycles...and cyclists in general. Portland is the most bike friendly city in the U.S. I don't know what bureaucrat is in charge of that...but we have had far too many bikes stolen, and too many cyclists killed. Lean on the Mayor!!!
julieswhimsies
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Yes, Portland does have year-round mild weather if you want to ride to work during the rain all winter. There are no fees. Most one-way streets are 2 way for cyclists. There are wide bike paths everywhere. And, as I said many business have indoor garages for bicycles. @Mick Minneapolis may be rated #1 at the moment...but who rides bicycles in Minneapolis' frigid winters. My son commutes daily on his bike, whether it is raining or not. Fun fact: Carrying an umbrella in Portland is SO not hip. ;P
Mick52
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
Portland is a leader but not number 1 anymore, which is Minneapolis. Weather thus is not a factor: http://www.bicycling.com/news/advocacy/1-minneapolis-mn
Ignatz
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 11:44 a.m.
Doesn't Portland have year-round biking weather that makes a more involved infrastructure feasible? Do they have fees associated with bicycling that would pay for such things?
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:39 p.m.
Thieves should concentrate on the bikes that have been padlocked on campus so long the tires are flat. There are plenty of them.
Mick52
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
Bike thefts are up all over. NYC has seen a huge increase. It does not matter what kind of lock, though he heavier are better. Once, on campus, thieves used liquid nitrogen on a U lock and whacked it into tiny pieces. Cables and padlocks can be cut about as quickly as a person can open them with a key. Thieves will also take your parts, like the seat. Makes riding home a real adventure. So if you can quick release some parts, especially your seat that alone may make your bike unappealing to a bike thief. UM does not offer any security for bikes. The best bike places are providing covered monitored areas to protect from both the weather and thieves. See McDonald Center in Chicago, or lockable boxes the City of Ann Arbor provides, just $60 rent for a year and pro rated for less than a year. Here is a photo, at the upper right of this page: http://getdowntown.org/bike/bike_parking.html The old style bike parking is nothing but an attraction for thieves. There are a few at the hospital but campus has not gotten up to speed. Also the police should know that many bicycle shops record sales on computers with serial numbers included for the sale, so even if a victim did not record a serial number, often it can be retrieved from the store that sold the bicycle. The bike registration is a good idea since the city cancelled that, which was a bad idea. If the U could see it to put up some dough for a better bike parking system they could tie that in with registration and get much better participation in registration. Finally they need to go around and clear out the dead rotting bicycles left by graduates over the past ten years.
Mick52
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:19 p.m.
I know about that Austin. It is the only one and in an odd location. I think maybe a couple of folks in the Fleming building bike to work and that is why it is there. It is an improvement but it is not what anyone would call a "Leader." It costs $12 more than the bike locker Ann Arbor rents for a year too. I can't find out from the website on bicycling on campus if UM participates in the tax refund law: http://thebikeproject.blogspot.com/2010/05/tax-credits-for-bicycle-commuter.html If you look at the McDonald Center in Chicago, you will see a 300 bike capacity, staffed, with a bike shop and repair. Don't need anything so big, but that is the kind of stuff done where people consider bicycling important.
Austin
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
Quick clarification: there is at least one locked bicycle garage at the University. It's on the south side of the Thompson St. structure. Last I checked, basically nobody uses it. I think I've seen a grand total of two bikes in there since they constructed it. It's a nice idea, though, and could help with bicycle theft. More info here: http://pts.umich.edu/alternative_transportation/bicycles.php#covered I always used to just ride my bicycle into my building and park it in my cubicle. Got some funny looks, but at least it was secure and dry.
Robert Granville
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
The city cancelled bike registration because no bikes were being recovered. It was completely ineffective.
Itchy
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:37 p.m.
Wow. Bike security 101"
Goober
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.
I refuse to believe that UM students are stealing from each other. Shameful!
FormerMichRes
Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 10:14 a.m.
I don't think it's the students either. How about the Ann Arbor elites ... panhandlers, homeless, occupiers of Liberty Plaza?