A college is a perfect place for a ride. Ride to class, ride to the nearest gossips, ride the the nearest mountains or the countryside, or ride anywhere. However, today's bikes cost $500 to $1,500 and more, and they've become prime theft bait. So much that campus police departments are warning students to leave their nice bikes at home.
It’s very easy to steal a bike but very hard to identify the thief.
It is a plague. Nearly 1.5 million bikes are stolen each year from college campuses.
Apparently, bike theft rings are at least partially responsible. These rings sell stolen bikes for drug money, and they're good at it. And, according to a recent report about a man in Toronto who stole over 2,800 bikes himself, bikes also have considerable scrap metal value with today's high commodity prices.
4 tips (must read tips) to avoid your dear bike from being stolen:
1. Check homeowners coverage:
It varies by policy, but you may have some coverage for a student's bike in your homeowners insurance, if the student is living on campus. That off-premises coverage covers most property away from home including items in a car, and might be 10% of the total property coverage, says Cris Barnette, a Farmers Insurance agent on the West Coast.
If the student lives in an apartment off campus, he'll need a renter's policy. And you also need to consider the deductible. The point: check with your agent.
2. Buy the right bike:
"Buy a bike you don't mind losing," says Richard Amneus, a bike shop owner in Oregon. "If you must have a good bike, keep it in your room for special occasions and use the 'beater' to go to class."
It might sound like taking advantage of a bad situation, but buying unclaimed bikes from local law enforcement agencies is the best. Once a waiting period has elapsed, they are fair game and cheap.
3. Make the bike identifiable:
According to studies cited by the National Bike Registry, some 48% of stolen bikes are eventually recovered by law enforcement, but only 5% ever find their way back to the owners. Putting a card, like a business card, under the grips is a good solution.
You can also register the serial number with the National Bike Registry. See the site.
But note: Serial numbers (and bike registry numbers) can be easily eliminated by thieves.
4. Ride and park smart:
If you have a nice bike, don't leave it in a dark place all by itself and available to the masses. Park and lock it in a place where lots of bikes are parked, and next to more expensive bikes if possible.
So, enjoy those crisp fall morning rides, and keep your bike through the school year.
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