As a way to deter bike theft in Eugene, EPD Property Crimes Unit detectives have placed a changing supply of bait bikes at various locations to combat the problem and arrest those who are responsible. Last night, the team made their 50th arrest since the team’s inception in July, 2018.
On October 24, Property Crimes Unit ran a bait bike operation that yielded an arrest in the downtown area.
Isaiah Alyas Lee, age 20, of Portland, grabbed the bike from where it was parked, and rode westbound toward West 11th Avenue and Charnelton, where he was eventually stopped and contacted by police. During the investigation police found information to arrest Lee on four counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Theft in the First Degree for taking the bike. He was transported to the Lane County Jail on the charges.
It should be noted that in a separate incident, detectives encountered a person who found the unattended bait bike and contacted EPD dispatch, hoping to have it returned to the rightful owner.
EPD Crime Prevention offers these prevention tips:
Proper locking, bike registration, and theft reporting are key elements in combating bike theft.
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.
VIDEO: Crime Prevention Program Manager Jeff Blonde – Bike Theft Prevention
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/.
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