Despite a recent rise in what is already one of the most common crimes on campus, many students still do not take the necessary precautions to prevent bicycle theft, a UAPD officer said.
Sgt. Mike Smith, UAPD spokesman, said a common mistake students make is using cable or chain locks instead of U-locks to secure their bikes.
U-locks, though generally more expensive, provide greater protection against theft when used correctly, and bikes locked with them rarely end up being reported to UAPD, Smith said.
If a bicycle is stolen, Smith said, its serial number can be entered into a national database to help recover it.
"Without a serial number, it would be next to impossible to recover," he said. "How many red 10-speeds are out there?"
Bicycles can also be registered with UA Parking and Transportation, which provides each bike a registration number that can be useful to recover a bicycle if the owner does not have the serial number, Smith said.
[Read More]
