Campus Connection

UW-L students are back, and so are bike thieves. Bike theft is the No. 1 reported crime on campus. Students, faculty and staff can greatly reduce the chances of bike theft by following these suggestions. 1. Always lock your bike with a quality steel, U-Lock through the frame and wheels — even if you are going to be gone for only a few minutes. For maximum protection, use a cable along with a U-Lock. 2. Lock your bike to a rack or other firmly affixed object. (Make sure it’s high enough, so a thief cannot slip the bike off the top.) 3. Thieves even prey on bikes stored at home. Lock bikes when storing them on porches or in garages. 4. Record bike information including the make, model, color and serial number, and store it in a safe place. This will aid law enforcement if your bike is stolen. Also, register your bike at no cost with University Police. Registered bikes are much more likely to be recovered. Also, those who register will receive a coupon for a discount on a quality lock at area bicycle shops. 5. If possible bring an inexpensive bike to college. Thieves tend to target the high-end bicycles. Questions or need additional help? Contact University Police Officer Dave Pehl at dpehl@uwlax.edu.