Oregon daily emerald., October 19, 1987, Page 9, Image 9

Theft
Continued from Page 8
b\ Urraiiw Nath
few dollars, abandoned after a
short ride, or simply claimed by
the thief for personal
transportation
“It really depends on what
the intent is of the person who
steals the bike.” Hunter said.
If a theft victim spots his or
her bike locked somewhere.
Hunter suggested that someone
call the OPS while the owner
watches the bike. She said it
would also be acceptable to lock
the bike with a second lock un
til the police arrive. Proof of
ownership would be essential
in such a case, she added.
Hunter said police stakeouts
to catch a bike thieves would be
"wonderful." OPS usually cuts
the thief's lock, however, since
stakeouts for bike thefts are a
low police priority, she said.
l,ast April, however, it was
the final straw for Hunter when
a man in tears reported the theft
of his $900 bicycle from racks
located near Lawrence Hall. It
was one of several reported
thefts from that same location,
so Hunter decided to take a stab
at it
Out of uniform and toting a
backpack. Hunter watched the
area with support available
front nearby officers. 1-ess than
an hour had passed when she
saw three males try to steal a
bike. Two acted as lookouts
while the third cut the lock with
boltcutters At that moment she
arrested them.
Questioning the thieves, one
of whom was a juvenile, led
police to several stolen bikes at
local pawn shops The value of
the bikes ranged from $400 to
StHM) each. Hunter said.
Theft of a bike valued at $200
or more is a class C felony in
Oregon, punishable by up to
five years imprisonment. Steal
ing a bike worth less than that is
a class A misdemeanor, the
maximum penalty being a one
year imprisonment. The penalty
for both crimes may involve
monetary fines as well.
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City police reported in 1971
that an advertisement on an
EMU bulletin board stated that
10-speed bicycles were
"available.'' The message pro
vided instructions to call a
number between 5:30 and ti
p.m. An investigation revealed
that a man waited by a pay
phone on campus, took orders
for specific styles and makes of
bikes, and then went out and
stole them for his customers
Birr said that two weeks ago
residents of the Westmoreland
housing complex reported a
suspicious man looking at
bikes. Police responding to the
call found lock-cutting tools in
the man's backpack, lie had not
cut any locks, but a resident
manager agreed to press charges
for trespassing
The police are rarely so suc
cessful in apprehending thieves
or retrieving stolen bikes,
however. l.ess than VI percent
of the bikes reported stolen in
Eugene during 1980 have been
recovered
| K Stults, owner of J.R.'a
Pawn Shop and Trade Center at
145B Willamette St., is all too
familiar with the problem of
bike theft. He said that in the
past year It) bikes were stolen
from in front of his store, where
they were unlocked and on
display.
Stults buys used bikes, but
only with a serial number and a
piece of photo identification of
whoever is selling it. That infor
mation is checked twice a week
by police. Stults said.
Serial numbers also are
checked at Second Nature
Bicycles. 44t> E. 13th Ave.
"Whenever anyone comes in
with a stolen bike, we run a
check on it and turn it in to the
cops.” owner Milo Overbay
said "That's kind of gotten
around on the theft circle so
they know not to sell to Second
Nature "
Overbay said he knew of a
theft ring in the past operated
by college-age men who
recruiter! juveniles to do the
Stealing for a cut of the haul,
divided up in either money or
parts
"There is a persistent pro
blem with juvenile rings
because when they get caught
the penalties arc so minor
typically a few hours of public
service or something that it
makes it very easy for them to
get practice so they don't get
caught in the future," Overbay
said.
Overhay and Stu Greenleaf.
owner of Stu's Eugene Bicycles
at 771 Blair Blvd , both said
they hadn't heard of any bikes
stolen that were properly locked
with a U-lock
"It's insurance and a lot
cheaper than dealing with the
hassle of a stolen bike,” Over
buy said.
Made of solid, hardened steal
(dubbed "Kryptonite") and
sold with guarantees. U-locks
Cost bet worm $1B and S;t5.
Overbuy said the guarantees
are credible, but cautioned thut
the bike must be securely lock
ed to something
According to Hunter, who
personally receives campus
bike theft reports, many of the
stolen bikes are he ked. but not
properly so,
She advised that quick
release front wheels tie removed
and locked to the rear wheel,
the frame and a good bike rack
She also said it's wise to keep
bikes in dorm rooms, apart
ments and offices when
possible.
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