Salt Lake Community College offers a free registration service to help students recover their stolen bicycles.
With racks usually just a few feet away from building entrances, SLCC students who ride their bikes to school are guaranteed to find the best parking spot anywhere. These spots, however, can be an easy target for thieves.
“I often see bikes left unlocked or unguarded,” says student bicyclist Scott Miller.
Finding a stolen bike can be nearly impossible, and SLCC Parking Services wants to help in the process through its free registration program.
Registering a bike with SLCC gives local police the ability to quickly pull up the information needed to find the stolen bike. Bike registration is free to all students, faculty and staff, and never expires.
In 2012, the Utah Highway Patrol decided that there needed to be a way to identify stolen bikes more easily.
UHP reported that there have been 72 bicycle thefts since the program began in 2012.
“If a bike is sold at a pawn shop, the shop has to check the serial number on a local registry,” says Sgt. Phil Waters. “If the bike was registered on the SLCC program, they will know immediately, and inform the police.”
UHP is currently working with student government to promote the program during Club Rush. They also want to provide incentives for students who register their bikes.
Eventually, SLCC students who register will receive a coupon to buy a bike lock at half price through the campus bookstore.
To reduce the likelihood of a theft on campus, bike riders are encouraged to take precautionary measures.
According to Sgt. Waters, “No bike has ever been stolen that was locked with a U lock. Thieves can easily cut through other locks but can’t cut through the U lock.”
“Make sure the lock you have can go around the frame and any quick release tires,” says Miller. “If you want extra protection, you can remove the seat and take it with you. This makes stealing a bike more difficult, and will make the burglar more noticeable.”
For bicycle protection, SLCC provides bicycle racks at every campus, and UHP officers patrol each campus every day class is in session.
