weeks ago near SE Belmont and 34th.
(Photo © Elly Blue)
For some reason there seems to be a rash of bike thefts happening in Portland right now. I just noticed that we’ve had nine bicycles listed as stolen in Portland in the past 12 hours alone. I can’t confirm it without a bit more research, but I think it’s safe to say this is a record number of listings for a 12-hour period.
What’s going on? Are thieves trying to make a few quick bucks before Black Friday? Has a bike theft ring set up shop in Portland? Are thieves in need of transportation to visit their families for Thanksgiving? It’s hard to tell.
The good news is that there’s an easy way to prevent this happening to you; lock your bike with a u-lock! From following stolen bikes in this city for several years, my hunch is that most bikes are stolen from porches and backyards where they’re not locked up at all. Another way to become a bike theft victim is to use a cable lock.
So, let this rash of thefts be a reminder to lock it or lose it.
In other bike theft news, I was recently paid a visit by Portland Police Bureau Bicycle Liaison Officer Robert Pickett. Pickett, myself, and our bike theft software guru Bryan Hance from StolenBicycleRegistry.com are joining forces to improve the listings for local police officers. If all goes according to plan, Portland Police vehicles will have live, searchable access to BikePortland’s Stolen Bike listings via their on-board, web-enabled computer screens. Thieves beware!
If you want to help us track down stolen bikes, follow @StolenBikesPDX on Twitter and keep your eyes peeled.