ASU Police make 4 recent arrests for bike theft

ASU Police have made four recent arrests for bike theft at the Tempe and Downtown Phoenix campuses since the fall semester got under way.

During the most recent case last week, officers contacted a man on the Tempe campus on an unrelated matter and checked the new beach cruiser bicycle the man had with him. Officers discovered the bike belonged to a student who registered it with the ASU Police Department and reported it stolen the day before. Officers were able to arrest the man and return the bike to the student.

Registering a bike with the ASU Police Department creates a record of ownership, which possibly can act as documentation for insurance carriers. Bike registration also can aid authorities when they attempt to locate the owner of a stolen or recovered bike. ASU students, faculty and staff can register their bicycles for free with the ASU Police Department through a simple online process at cfo.asu.edu/bike-theft.

ASU Police also arrested a man and a woman on Sept. 2 in the process of stealing a bike at the Downtown Phoenix campus. On Aug. 28, an ASU Police Aide saw a man near the bike rack at Taylor Place. The aide contacted officers when the man cut a lock on a bike and rode off. Officers arrested the thief and recovered the bike. The bike was returned to the owner.

In addition to registering bikes with the ASU Police Department, ASU has been encouraging students to lock their bikes properly with a U-lock and cable lock. The department also uses bait bikes equipped with GPS systems to track thieves.

One of the best ways to guard against theft is to lock a bike securely using two locks. A u-lock can secure the rear wheel and bike frame to the bike rack. A second cable lock can go through the front wheel, bike frame and rear tire. Learn how to properly lock a bike by watching this video.

Bike thieves who attempt theft at ASU also will have a more difficult time trying to get away. Bait bikes equipped with GPS tracking systems will be stationed around the Tempe campus, aiding officers in catching bike thieves. ASU community members who witness suspicious behavior or a bike theft in progress are asked to report it by using a Blue Light phone on campus, or by calling 480-965-3456.

Suspicious behavior includes a person hanging around bikes with no apparent purpose, someone with a bike riding around bike racks and passing several open spots, and individuals with bolt or wire cutters near the racks.