PPB bike theft report shows sharp increase, reveals hotspots

“Only 28% of bike theft victims knew their bike’s serial number- making it harder for police to identify the bike if recovered.”
— From PPB Bike Theft Analysis

The Portland Police Bureau’s Crime Analysis Unit has just given us the first look at a new report on bike theft. According to the PPB’s statistics, the number of reported bike thefts has increased sharply this year, more Treks were stolen than any other brand last year, the most commonly stolen bikes are worth about $500, and the major bike theft hotspots are downtown.

The report reveals that 2,214 incidents of bike theft were reported in 2011. That is a large increase over previous years. The Portland Mercury reported in 2010 that, between May 2008 and February 2010, there were only 2,300 stolen bikes reported. PPB spokesman Pete Simpson says he believes the higher number is a reflection of both more thefts and more people actually reporting them (thanks in large part to the PPB’s new online crime reporting tool which launched in early 2010).

The 2011 analysis shows that the main bike theft hotspots are at the University of Portland, the Interstate Ave area, the Broadway area, and in southeast Portland. Check out the hotspot map below:

Downtown is by far the place where most bikes are stolen. “Only a few spots in the downtown area account for 26% of all bicycle thefts citywide,” says the report. Interestingly, there seems to be no difference in the amount of bikes stolen on the weekends versus weekdays. Given the large number of people biking to work during the week, this is surprising. The PPB says the reason could be due to, “an increase in recreational riders” on the weekends and that, “People may leave their bikes parked over night or in one particular area longer since they are not required to be at work at a particular time.”

What brand of bike is stolen most often? PPB data says that title goes to Trek (of course, there are probably more Treks sold overall too). They also presented a breakdown of stole bike values and found that $500 rigs are the most commonly taken:

While the PPB’s online crime reporting tool is becoming more popular, I think it’s still clear that more bikes are being stolen in Portland (another factor is that more people are biking in Portland each year). Here’s a chart the PPB gave me that compares the number of bike thefts reported from January 1 through February 25th for the last three years (and breaks it down between reports received via dispatch and the online reporting tool):

The BikePortland Stolen Bike Listings are another sign that bike theft is spiking this year. In that same time period we had 43 bikes listed in 2011 and that number ballooned to 93 this year.

While these numbers and trends are a concern, a silver lining is how active the PPB has been on the bike theft issue. I know many of you have stories about losing your bike and not being happy with the response you’ve gotten from police, but over the past six years or so that I’ve been around this issue, I think they’re doing a great job. They have helped recover stolen bikes and they have worked with BikePortland and others on education campaigns. Pete Simpson says they intend to continue to help decrease bike theft. He says they released this report as a service to the public, “recognizing that it’s an important part of the Portland culture.” A public awareness campaign from the PPB about bike theft might also be forthcoming.

To help prevent your bike from being stolen, the PPB recommends the following (in their words, not mine):

  • Use U-Locks! Most stolen bikes reported having a cable lock that was broken and left at the scene; very few bikes using U-locks were reported stolen.
  • Individuals living in ‘secure residential apartments’ should not leave their bikes outside their rooms in the hallways or unlocked in the basement. Either lock it with a U-lock in the basement or keep it inside your personal apartment.
  • Local businesses and parking decks may try to open a secure parking spot for bikes instead of having riders park them openly in the street with easy access.
  • Memorize your serial numbers! Only 28% of bike theft victims knew their bike’s serial number- making it harder for police to identify the bike if recovered.
  • Consider double locking, especially in areas where bike theft is common.
  • See the Problem Oriented Policing guide on bike theft for additional recommendations.

— Download the PPB Crime Analysis Unit’s Bike Theft Analysis Report here (PDF).

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Esther
Esther
11 years ago

If you have a smartphone, it takes only a few minutes to photo your serial number, frame, components and acessories, and upload them to a site such as flickr, picasa, etc. where you can access the information anywhere your phone or a computer can. (versus having the serial number siting at home in a file or trying to memorize it)

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
11 years ago
Reply to  Esther

Didn’t see your post before I posted my reply (w/the link)…

JV
JV
11 years ago
Reply to  Esther

Yes, this is exactly it. Just email yourself the photos and description of your bike and components. Then you have a permanent record as well with a timestamp as proof, and you can forward the email on if needed. gmail is great for this.

Scott
Scott
11 years ago

When it comes to theft and citizens, cops only “find” your items if they bumble into your items accidentally. Other than that, you have to find said item and get the cops to confirm that it is yours. That’s the only reason to file a report. The paper trail.

oskarbaanks
oskarbaanks
11 years ago
Reply to  Scott

Scott is correct. With anything stolen in general, your best bet is to be proactive in preemptive documentation, (as Esther suggested) and to do your own leg work ASAP. In the past three years in Portland I have helped 5 people recover their bike within 2 weeks, and helped another guy retrieve a construction trailer that was his life’s blood. All of the items were advertised on CL, 2/3 posted in Bend, Eugene, Washougal etc. as a front. The police were only of assistance once inroads for clues were established by us first. true fact.

matt picio
matt picio
11 years ago
Reply to  Scott

It’s not the only reason – just the only reason which benefits the victim directly. Reports are also compiled into the crime statistics – if a crime isn’t reported, effectively it doesn’t exist as far as the city or law enforcement are concerned. Lots of crimes go unreported and can hide developing problems until they become entrenched.

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
11 years ago

As a follow up to this article – it would be interesting to compare this to the number and hot spots for car theft. Are there more bikes stolen in Portland’s core?

Mindful Cyclist
Mindful Cyclist
11 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

Portland Monthly does a thing on the neighborhoods every year, and looks like Downtown is up there for motor vechicle theft, but mostly occurs in East Portland.

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/real-estate/articles/neighborhoods-by-the-numbers/

matt picio
matt picio
11 years ago
Reply to  Todd Boulanger

82nd Avenue is one of the big car hot spots, mostly due to the large number of car lots.

9watts
9watts
11 years ago

The table above shows bikes at $500 the largest bin. But the total # of bikes in that table is only 742. How does this number compare to the 2,214 total for 2011 reported above? If the difference represents bikes <$500 that would be very interesting. If the total is reflective of a different year, or a partial year that too would be interesting.

Finally, how are the $-values determined? If the police asked me to name the value of my (stolen) bike I'd have no clue except to reference Craigslist for comparables ($150). But if I were hoping for insurance coverage I'd be tempted to say $600 since it's replacement value (new) would be at least that much, probably twice that.

K'Tesh
K'Tesh
11 years ago

My tip for serial numbers…
Using a black or silver Sharpie pen (depending on frame color), paint the serial number, then photograph it, and put it somewhere that you won’t lose it (I decided on flickr.com).

Ludwig’s Serial number:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ufobike/5832510315/

I keep the serial # as private to me only (except when the bike has been destroyed).

oskarbaanks
oskarbaanks
11 years ago

Look at the lone hot spot on Willamette! What a drag to come out of class at U.P. to find your bike gone!

PomPilot
PomPilot
11 years ago
Reply to  oskarbaanks

I rode through campus last weekend. To my dismay, (I’m an alumnus), I saw numerous bikes placed in racks with only a light cable and cheap lock, or no lock at all. When my friend (another alumnus) and I parked our bikes outside of the bookstore, we used a chain, a cable lock, a U lock, and a frame mounted ring lock to secure our two bikes to the staple rack. Overkill? Maybe. Or, maybe not. Both bikes were still there upon our return.

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
11 years ago

I’ve been a lot more careful after having a bike stolen a few years ago. For me the way to go, especially if I’m in what I perceive as a “hotspot”, is to Sheldon-lock the rear wheel to a secure rack (using a mini U-lock) and run a cable around the front wheel.

Question: does it do any good at all to sign up with National Bike Registry? Other than forcing me to record my serial numbers, that is? Do the Portland Police actually check with NBR when they recover stolen bikes so they can get them back to their owners?

Toby
Toby
11 years ago
Reply to  GlowBoy

I think I have heard on here before that the PPB doesn’t use NBR to aid in recovery, but of course that is now 3rd to 4th generation information. I would also like to hear from someone within the bureau.

Steve B
11 years ago

If you bought your bicycle (new or used) at a reputable shop, they should have records on the bike you bought, S/N, color, etc. If you can’t find it on your original receipt, try giving your bike shop a call!

Mindful Cyclist
Mindful Cyclist
11 years ago

“Only 28% of bike theft victims knew their bike’s serial number- making it harder for police to identify the bike if recovered.”

And bike thieves knows this! This is why it is such a big issue. Write it down, take a picture of it, and take a picture of you standing next to it.

sabes
sabes
11 years ago

GPS tracking for you bike is coming: http://signup.biketrak.com/

jeff
jeff
11 years ago

So where would one go to speak to someone about a possible theft group I’ve witnessed? I’ve ridden by a home in SE numerous times and seen a group of rather “rough” gentlemen loading arm loads of bike tires and other bike parts into a covered truck? For the life of me, I can’t come up with a good reason as to why someone would have such a volume of bike parts…legally.

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
11 years ago
Reply to  jeff

Call Portland Police on their non-emergency line. 503-823-3333.

jacob
jacob
11 years ago
Reply to  jeff

I do know a guy in SE that owns a shop and has a ridiculous amount of bikes stored at his house.

Possibly him.

AlanGunn
AlanGunn
11 years ago

From a geographic analysis perspective, this report only tells part of the story.

As they state in the report: “The Downtown area has the most thefts potentially due to a higher population density or more bike commuters.” This is likely true, and it would be useful to derive the probability of one’s bike being stolen if locked up in downtown. If you were to normalize the rate of theft with pop, or better yet, the number of parked bikes, you might be surprised to find that locking up in downtown is relatively safe and has a lower rate of theft than other parts of town (per capita).

To clarify, I am not saying downtown IS any safer, and it could be very well the “least safe”. My point is this analysis doesn’t prove where the risk of bike theft is highest.

Murray
Murray
11 years ago

Whoa Jeff, in most cities, especially Portland, there are groups of rather rough people doing community bike-shop projects or just making crazy bikes for there circus or something. Those types probably aren’t stealing that stuff.