Santa Clara Police Combating Spike In Bicycle Thefts
SANTA CLARA (KCBS)— Santa Clara's Police Department is responding to a spike in bicycle thefts this weekend with an event that will promote bike theft awareness and safety.
The department's community services unit is throwing the event since close to 200 bikes have been stolen over the past three months. According to police, most of the thefts occurred on the North side of Highway 101 in the Rivermark area.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
Santa Clara Police Lieutenant Matt Hogan said the bikes range from very expensive to low-priced bikes and that they're disappearing at a very alarming rate.
Unfortunately Barbara Burkhart is one of those residents who have been affected by the rash in crime.
"My husband's had his specialized bike stolen right out of our garage. No matter where you live it's everywhere. So now he puts a lock on it in the garage and we cannot leave that garage door open," Burkhart said.
Lt. Hogan said one precautionary measure would be to lock and register their bikes with the national bike registry.
"Perhaps during a detention or a police investigation we can locate the serial number and reunite the bicycle with its owner," Hogan said, adding that bikes should never be unattended.
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