Show A USU student demonstrates how easily thieves make-of- f Bicycle burglaries by Craig Warner for Student Life It is night The dark figure runs silently into the garage Quickly he pulls the bicycle from its rack climbs on and rides away leaving no trace of his presence This is one example of a — the growing trend of burglaries bicycle theft A common place for bicycle thefts is on a college campus There are usually better bicycles on a campus because of the greater interest of cycling among college students The bicycles can range from inexpensive Sears Free Spirits ($80) to Titanium frame custom built bicycles ($800) On the USU campus bicycle thefts don’t occur as frequently as on other campuses But they are still present for v some of the stolen garage” The methods of stealing bicycles ranges from easy to difficult Officer James Williamson of the Logan City Police said that bicycle thefts on the USU campus have increased in the last two -years by about 20 per cent “We now average around three to five stolen bicycle reports a week It can get as high as eight” said Williamson Many people will not report their bicycle stolen to the police because of the little chance of it being recovered Brian Bush a senior at USU said that he didn’t report when his bike was stolen “I knew they (police) would never find it again They never do” said Bush “I have some friends who never got their bikes back again either” is a ‘Tommy’ (a pseudo-name- ) bicycle thief and has been for four years “I don’t think reporting a stolen bike does any good” ‘Tommy’ said “If a bike is worth stealing the thief will fix it up so it won’t be recognized again” he said There are ways of marking a as bicycle for identification such can’t that with an electropencil be removed But if a thief wants the bicycle he will find a way to bypass the identification said ‘Tommy’ The best way of keeping a bike from being stolen is to properly lock it in the proper parking places “Bicycles that are improperly parked may be impounded” Williamson said “That accounts are growing trend on campuses can be filed down to make a master key to all of the lock series” he said Most of the thieves that are or caught are of high school age We Williamson said younger do get mainly high schoolers But we do get a college student now and then” he said The reasons for stealing to bicycles varies from Money be dares There might even reasons of revenge on an enemy or because it provides excitement “I started because I needed the I money” ‘Tommy’ said “But to in got to where I enjoyed going somebody’s Hi Some easier ways are taking an unlocked bteycle from inside a garage at night or from in front of a grocery store “I always case a house in the day and rip it off at night” said ‘Tommy’ “That way it is safer and easier” he said “I sometimes take a bike from a store but never until I know where the owner is and how long he’ll be gone” he said The best means of protection are also the simplest The bicycle should be parked in plain sight of people A cable is the best type of protection because it doesn’t snap when cut There will be three or four individual strands of wire that will probably give enough time to save the bicycle U 335 No MAIN LOGAN 752-968- mf or Areas that are the target away from sight are for bicycle thieves As “Tommy’ said “A little common sense just might save your bicycle” mm Still FILLED have seats on New York Flights DEC & Washington 12 Leave Salt Lake 10:25 AM Nonstop Luncheon flight arrives Kennedy 4:30 PM $25810 You may choose your United Airlines return Airfares represent total cost including tax and security charge as well as fare increase which became effective Nov 15th 8 0W MANY TOYS THROUGHOUT STORE AND COFFEE SHOP Prfe III THE HAPPY VALLEY ARCADE 1351 East 7th North bike reports” he said “But most people just don’t lock their bicycles or do so very the poorly and almost invite bicycle thief to steal them” Williamson said STATE HARDWARE 30 S MAIN Even though bicycles are locked thieves find ways of breaking them free They either cut the lock or chain or even pick some of the locks “I always use a pair of bolt All I cutters”' said ‘Tommy the cut walk is up have to do said he lock and ride away” “Most locks aren’t hard to get into” ‘Tommy’ said “The small combination locks are easy to lock keys pick and some Master One of the major theft areas on the USU campus is the High Rise complex The bicycles are left outside or downstairs at night when nobody is around Anyone with a good set of bolt cutters like ‘Tommy’s’ have an Washington 10:00 PM $24110 mtzt —— A hauled off” easy storehouse of bicycles As ‘Tommy’ says the best way to protect against theft is to understand how the theft occurs “If you know to do it” said ‘Tommy’ you’ll be able to protect against it better” Leave Salt Lake 2:50 PM Direct dinner flight arrives CUSTOM MUFFLER AISD “A bicycle should be locked through both wheels and to a lamp post or something stable” ‘Tommy’ said “That way the bike can’t be picked up and CHICAGO Exhaust & Tail Pipes Dual Out Specials Ik photos by Ken Sink with locked bicycles Do you know where your bike is tonight? Burgers Chili BBQ French Dip Sandwiches Chicken & Shrimp PARK FREE ACROSS THE STREET IN KOB PARKING LOT 9-- 9 Mon to Fri 9-- 6 Sat OPEN 8 AAA to 1 0 PAA a |