Upgraded bike locks and registration are students' first line of defense for preventing bicycle theft.
For Weston Smith, a public health major at BYU, mountain biking has been a part of his life since he was 14. The hobby kept him afloat during the pandemic, he said.
“That was kind of my escape,” Smith said.
So, when it was time for college, Smith brought his orange bicycle. At the end of each day, Smith secured his bike just outside his apartment complex.
“I had a lock and everything. It wasn't a metal U-lock, but it was, like the wire, ropey looking ones,” Smith said.
Everything was going well until a month and a half into the semester when Smith went outside for a routine bike check-up.
“I didn’t see it, and I was like, ‘What the heck?’” Smith said. “I found my lock on the ground.”
Someone had forced open Smith’s lock and stolen the bicycle. Smith checked around Provo looking in pawn shop windows, but was unable to find his bike.
Smith’s experience is one shared by many students; bike theft is a yearly concern for the campus police, Karen Ellingson, BYU public information officer said. Officers work hard to mitigate theft on campus and are ready to help students who are victims of petty crime.
Students can also take action to decrease the likelihood of their bike being stolen. A great first line of defense is a sturdy bike lock.
“Making sure it’s secure is the best defense,” Ellingson said.
Ellingson discourages students from using traditional wire locks. They are easy to remove with a simple pair of cable cutters, she said. She recommends U-locks, large metal rings that are difficult for perpetrators to cut.
Graham Stevens, an employee at Hangar 15, said that U-locks are a great preventative measure, but they need to be used correctly.
“Anywhere on the frame is going to be where you’re going to want to lock it to a bike rack,” Stevens said. “Right around the down tube, the biggest part of the frame is going to be the most important kind of area to lock.”
Students can also register their bikes with campus and local police. All they need to do is call in and share the bike’s serial number along with a brief physical description, said Ellingson. This information helps officials identify bikes they come across on patrol.
“If it is stolen, we can put it on to the law enforcement systems and also watch to see if it pops up somewhere on Facebook marketplace or KSL or someone’s back room deals, however it is that they’re trying to offload it,” Ellingson said.
Smith's bike was unregistered at the time of the theft. This decreased the chances of recovering his bike, he said.
These days, Smith still finds time to hit the trails. The only difference is how he takes care of business back home. He registered his bike, invested in a stronger lock and kept it stored indoors overnight. He hopes students will take similar precautions and continue to live life from the helm of their handlebars.