Bike thefts spike in summer months, police believe incidents are connected, no arrests made as of yet

June saw a heightened rash of bicycle thefts across Pitt’s campus. During the whole month of… June saw a heightened rash of bicycle thefts across Pitt’s campus. During the whole month of May, only five bicycles were reported stolen from on-campus bike racks. But halfway through June, twice that number had already been stolen.

By the end of the month, a total of 14 bicycles were reported stolen, including three on both June 12 and June 20.

“No, it’s not unusual,” Ron Bennett of the University police said. “There are less people around the bike racks [at this time of the year], which causes those who steal them to not be seen.”

The actual number of thefts could be higher, though, since not all students report their stolen bikes to police.

Pitt senior David Shearer did not report his missing mountain bike to police on June 15 after it was stolen from the bike rack under the Forbes Avenue overpass. Shearer, who used the bike to get to class and to his job, left the bike unattended and unlocked for 10 minutes between 8 and 9 p.m. When he returned, it was gone.

“I only paid 10 bucks for it, so I didn’t think it was worth the time,” Shearer said.

According to Bennett, University police were aware of the spike in thefts in June and bolstered their presence around campus bike racks. Plainclothes officers were stationed in the vicinity of certain areas of higher concern, and police patrols were directed to pay special attention to suspicious characters.

Bennett said that, as far as he knew, most of the stolen bikes had been locked at the time of the robberies, but that many of the locks were not sufficient. He estimated that simple bolt cutters were being used in the crimes.

“What I believe is the case is improper bike locks being used,” he said.

The University police recommended that cyclists buy U-bolt locks, which tend to persuade the average thief with bolt cutters to bypass the locked bike for easier prey.

As of yet, Pitt police have not found the perpetrators.

On June 7 a person reported to police that he had seen a suspicious person possibly in the act of stealing a bike from the rack in front of Posvar Hall. Police also questioned a suspicious individual on the 3900 block of Forbes Avenue on June 10. Neither episode turned up any concrete answers or evidence.

Nine of June’s 14 thefts all happened between June 6 and14. Three more bikes were stolen June 20.

Bennett doubted the possibility of unconnected culprits, predicting that nearly all the thefts had been the work of a few associated individuals. “More than likely it’s two to three people who are doing it. Usually no more than three people,” in these kinds of cases, Bennett said.

Although the bike thieves only became more confident, as measured by the increasing number of thefts in the first half of June, only four bikes were stolen in the last half of June. The stolen bike count dropped to 10 during July, which signaled that the thieves had at least let up a little, if not entirely.

Bennett remained confident that the perpetrators would be caught in June. “If we apprehend someone tomorrow, it will almost certainly stop at once,” he said.

However, the police did not report apprehending any bicycle thieves since then.