Campus Connection

UWL Police officers uncovered a ‘chop shop’ for high-end bicycles over the weekend after one of its ‘bait bikes’ was stolen. The bait bikes are randomly set out on campus and tracked by GPS in hopes of catching bike thieves. And that’s exactly what happened. The ‘bait bike’ was set out Friday morning and was stolen early Sunday. It was taken to an off-campus house where the officers found about 30 bikes in various states of disrepair, including several valued at more than $2,000, and numerous bike parts. “We want to return these bikes,” says UWL Police Chief Scott McCullough. “We’re asking anyone who’s had their bicycle stolen to come forward with their name and bike serial number to get their bike back.” Images of the bikes are posted on the UW-La Crosse Police Facebook page. The ‘Bait Bike’ program was made possible through local support from the UWL Alumni Association, Smiths Cycling and Fitness and Wyatt Bicycle Company.