On August 24, police received information of a 15-year-old boy who had his bike stolen after placing it momentarily on the side of his friend’s residence on East 36th Place. The bike was left in a bushy area concealed, although unsecured, and when he went to retrieve it a few minutes later, it was gone. The victim had spent two years saving to purchase the bike, working for Northwest Youth Corps and doing yard work.
The bike is described as a light blue and orange Santa Cruz 5010 mountain bike, with new pedals. If anyone has information, or has seen the described bike in the area, please contact police at 541.682.5111.
Preventing Bicycle Theft
Bikes are valuable, portable and easy to resell, making them attractive to thieves. In 2019, 603 bicycles were reported stolen in the City of Eugene. By taking a few precautions, you can lower the odds of becoming a victim and having your bike stolen.
Lock your bike: Lock your bike at all times, no matter how short of time you will be leaving it. Make sure the lock is attached to the frame of the bicycle and secured to a fixed, immovable object. Invest in a solid hardened steel U-bolt style lock. You should expect to pay $40 or more for a quality lock. Cheap ones can easily be defeated. Some U-locks come with insurance that will pay you if the lock is overcome and the bike is stolen. You can use additional locks to secure wheels and other parts of the bike. Cable locks can be good secondary locks but should not be used as your primary lock. Secure your bicycle in the garage the same way you would on the street. There is no locking method that is 100 percent defense proof, and with time and tools, a thief can defeat your lock. Bikes left at racks overnight are particularly vulnerable.
If your bike is stolen in the City of Eugene, report it immediately to the Eugene Police Department. 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/.
In addition, you can register your stolen bike with Greater Eugene Area Riders (GEARs) https://eugenegears.org/bike-registration/. GEARs uses Bike Index to send out alerts of stolen bikes and provides a publicly searchable database to help people identify and avoid buying a stolen bike. Post the bike as stolen in the bike section of Craigslist. If you receive a tip or info, contact police, 541-682-5111 for the incorporated area of Eugene. Please do not attempt to recover the bike on your own.
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