During the month of August, UCSF Police have received reports of a number of bicycle thefts committed on or around the Mission Bay and Parnassus campuses.
In all but one of the thefts, the bicycles were locked, and in some cases had the additional security of being parked in the Parnassus campus bicycle cage.
When the bicycles were reported stolen to the UCSF Police Department, the serial numbers were not available, making it impossible for the Police Department to enter the stolen bicycle’s information into the nationwide theft recovery system.
The UCSF Police Department Investigations Unit, in an attempt to address the problem of bicycle thefts, conducted a surveillance operation at the Parnassus campus on Aug. 28. Detectives observed a suspect using bolt cutters to cut a cable-style lock. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the detectives. The suspect was interviewed and provided insight into how he stole bicycles from the campuses. The suspect claimed stealing bicycles was his “job.”
In this case, the suspect stated that he watched a bicycle owner park and secure the bicycle. After watching the owner enter a nearby business, he cut the cable-style lock with bolt cutters. The suspect told detectives he had taken bicycles from the bicycle cage on the Parnassus campus on numerous occasions. The suspect stated that he would wait until someone entered the locked cage and walk in behind them. He would then act as if he were looking for a key to unlock a bicycle while waiting for the person to leave.
The suspect had a source for selling the stolen bicycles, and told detectives the bicycles were being sold at an Oakland flea market. Because the bicycle theft victims were unable to provide a serial number, any attempt to recover the stolen bicycles wil be difficult.
In previous reports, the suspects have been described as white male methamphetamine users, 25 to 50 years old, with an unkempt, “homeless” appearance.
The UCSF Police Department encourages bicycle owners to photograph their bicycles and to record their bicycle serial numbers, in the event that their bicycles are stolen. Having the serial number available at the time of reporting a theft will increase the likelihood of the bicycle’s being recovered.
Members of campus community should contact the UCSF Police Department immediately at 415/476-1414 whenever they observe someone loitering around bicycle racks or cages.
Any questions should be directed to Detective Sergeant Barney Rivera at 415/476-5174.
Crime Prevention Tips
Suspects look for crimes of opportunity. Certain safety measures can be followed to minimize your chances of becoming a victim of bicycle theft. These are:
1. Always lock your frame with a high-quality U-lock or a heavy NYC chain, and secure your wheels. Make sure to fill up as much space inside the “U” as possible with poles, posts, and your frame and wheel. Leaving empty space gives room for a thief to pry open your lock.
2. A cable lock is not enough to protect your bicycle against theft. Cable locks are easy to cut. Get rid of any U-lock with a round barrel key. These locks can be broken into easily by an experienced thief.
3. Find an appropriate fixed object to lock your bike to. Don’t lock your bike to a pole or post that is loose in the ground. Thieves may have loosened it themselves.
4. Remove lights and speedometers when parking your bike. Replace quick releases with other types of skewers.
5. Protect your bike by registering it. While registering your bike won’t keep it from being stolen, it greatly aids in recovery of the bicycle by police. The police will not be able to release the bicycle to the owner without proof that it belongs to you. In addition, it helps the police identify and locate the proper owner. The National Bike Registry (NBR) is an excellent resource for getting your bike registered in a nationwide database. A bike registered with NBR, the only truly national database, can be identified by police and returned to you instead of being sold at an auction.
6. Record your bike’s serial number and other descriptive information, and store it in a safe place.
7. If your bicycle is stolen, report it to the police. The police will request simple descriptive information, your serial number and a photo of the bike, if possible. Remember to request a copy of your police report.
8. Post the theft on the craigslist community lost+found page. Sometimes cyclists are happily reunited with their bicycles by other craigslist viewers who have seen (or even accidentally bought) the bicycle online or on the street. You can also monitor eBay, and post a notice of the missing bike on online email lists within the bike community. It always helps to have other eyes out searching. Stolen bikes have also been recovered at Bay Area flea markets and the notorious San Francisco Civic Center Plaza.
Help fight crime by reporting suspicious activity to the UCSF Police Department immediately. For emergency or in-progress events, dial 9-911 when using on-campus land lines and 415/476-6911 when using cell phones. For non-emergency calls, please call 415/476-1414.
