Don't get ripped off: Bike thefts on the rise in Olympia
OLYMPIA -- Police are warning bicyclists to keep a close eye on their wheels. There’s been a spike in the number of thefts over the last couple months.
In July, surveillance cameras caught a man locking his bike outside the Olympia library, then taking off with another bike seconds later. Police caught the thief. But they say bike thefts continue to be a problem.
“In August alone, we had 30,” says Laura Wohl, the public information officer for the Olympia Police Department. “And already in September, we’ve had seven stolen.”
That’s three times more thefts than police usually see.
“There are a lot of public bike racks around that are not necessarily well watched, especially overnight,” says cyclist Jim Bill. ”I’ve heard people complain about bikes being stolen, friends have had bikes stolen. I ride an old bike that nobody would want.”
Police say in some cases, it is the newer, more expensive bikes that are being stolen. But thieves are also stealing bikes for parts.
“We have found areas in three homeless encampments, where bicycles have been taken apart. We found piles of parts, wheels in one pile, frames in another pile,” says Wohl. “It is new, that’s not something we’ve seen before. “
Ky Vega isn’t that surprised.
“Especially with bikes like mine, we have quick release tires that will just go missing and those cost quite a bit.”
Since he doesn’t have a car, he keeps a really close eye on his bike. He says not everyone does.
“People need to lock up their stuff better. Learn smarter way to lock up their bikes, through their tires and through their bodies.”
Bill admits he occasionally leaves his bike without locking it.
“Sometimes I do that, like if I run into the post office. If it’s a place where I can see the bike from inside.”
But police say it’s not worth taking the chance.
“While some locks are cut, there’s definitely a better chance your bike won’t be stolen if it’s locked. And of course, the heftier the lock the better,” says Wohl.
Police say you should also keep track of the serial number of your bike. They say they are finding some stolen bikes for sale in pawn shops or on Craigslist, and they say the only way they can return those bikes is to know who they belong to.