Bike theft is on the rise. I had 20 stolen bikes listed on this site in October alone. And from what I’ve heard, the thieves are getting more and more brazen, sawing racks in half, taking the entire rack with them, and even coming into homes while the victim sleeps just feet away!
According to this official map just sent to me by the Portland Police Bureau, there were 315 bike thefts reported between 9/1/05 and 11/12/05 (shown on map below as blue squares).
Here is the breakdown by precinct (precinct map):
- Central (downtown) – 100
- Southeast – 86
- Northeast – 52
- East – 49
- North – 25
I’ve heard of vigilante efforts, stings, more cooperation with law enforcement, a more comprehensive listing service, etc… It’s clear the energy and anger is out there to make something happen, but so far no major efforts have come forth. Should we rely on law enforcement? Should we take this into our own hands? Is it a matter of just being more careful with our bikes?
(Thanks to the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division for this map)