A bicycle is some people’s main mode of transportation and thus a possession of high value to them. Friday evening on November 30, four of Eugene Police’s Property Crimes Unit detectives conducted a bait bike operation and arrested four repeat offenders:
- Travis Gene Sellers, age 34, was charged with Theft in the First Degree and four unrelated warrants (Cases 18-18945/18943)
- Joseph Scott Buttenhoff, age 38, was charged with Theft in the First Degree (Case 18-18937)
- Jeremy Allen Black, age 27, was charged with Theft in the First Degree (Case 18-18940)
- Schylar Domonicq Flick, age 24, was charged with Theft in the First Degree (Case 18-18939)
Here are some tips to help prevent the theft of your bike:
Proper locking, bike registration, and theft reporting are key elements in combatting this crime.
A great first step to take is documentation. It is critical to document your serial number, take a photo and register your bicycle.
Presently, there are more than 7,000 bicycles registered with the Eugene Police Department and we would like to see all bicycles in Eugene registered! Though registration does not protect your bicycle from being stolen, it drastically increases your chances of recovery. Registration is fast and free for City of Eugene residents living in the incorporated area of Eugene. You can register your bicycle 24/7 via our website at: http://www.eugene-or.gov/bikeregistration. If you do not live in the incorporated area of Eugene, or live in another city, there are other alternatives mentioned in the link on our website.
Equally important as registration is the use of a quality U-lock and cable lock. No lock is undefeatable, but U-locks used along with cable locks, will provide much better protection than a cable lock alone. Many of the bicycle thefts reported to EPD involve no lock being used, or only a cable lock. Cable locks can be easily cut and do not provide adequate protection. The website link above also provides examples of how to properly lock your bicycle.
If your bike is stolen in Eugene, report it immediately to EPD. Be sure to provide specific details about your bike, including critical information such as the serial number. You can file a report by calling our non-emergency number at 541-682-5111 or online at: http://ceapps.eugene-or.gov/epdcoplogic/.