NYPD's Crime Prevention Tip of the Week: Bike Smart

Park Slope has a lot of bike lanes and a lot of bikers. Especially during the summer months, when more people ride, bike thefts can occur.

Below you can find tips from the 78th precinct and the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau Crime Prevention Section to keep your bike safe. This week’s tip is good timing, since our blogger’s bike , but a neighborhood , actually took them home for safe keeping. 

Bike Smart!

The summer is here and bicycle use is ever increasing. With the expansion of bicycle lanes throughout the city and rising fuel costs, more and more people are opting to utilize a bicycle for travel.

The cost of bicycles can vary greatly, making them quite tempting to street thieves. Street thefts are a fast method of generating money for perpetrators, and bicycles can be an easy target when unattended and not properly secured. 

Light weight chains and cable locks are not recommended, they are readily defeated with small easily concealed tools. Technology for securing bicycles has increased, and while we cannot recommend specific products, knowledgeable local bicycle shop representatives can point you in the right direction.

Be sure to secure your bike to a fixed object. Parking meters and scaffolding are not proper locations, ideally an anchored bicycle rack is the best spot.

As with most any situation, a well lit area is best. Be sure to remove any accessories, and for longer-term storage consider anchoring or locking the seat and removable wheels as well. Those items are easily removed and often a target for theft.

To be vigilant and to combat any rise of bicycle thefts we coordinate bike registration campaigns in precincts across New York City. Please visit our website for the latest schedule of events in your area. If you represent a community organization or bicycle rider group, please contact our office to schedule a customized registration drive for your organization. 

For more information on preventing theft, or for other crime prevention and personal safety tips visit our website: http://www.nypdcommunityaffairs.org/