University records indicate that an average of one bicycle is stolen from campus every week, making a total of nine bikes stolen this semester. Campus bicycle thefts have more than doubled in the past three years, according to official records.

On March 12, a men’s blue Next 21-speed mountain bike, was stolen from the Sierra Hall bike racks. In the spring semester, one-third of the bikes stolen were from the only guarded bicycle compound on campus. Twenty bicycles were stolen in 2000, 29 in 2001 and 43 have been stolen in 2002, according to campus statistics. The combined value of cost loss for all bicycles stolen in 2002 was $15,570, Public Information Officer John Hamrick said.

There are three bike compounds on campus: Bicycle Compound One by the Guy West bridge, Bike Compound Two by Amador Hall, and the Foley Hall compound.

According to police records for the past eight years, the leading area of bicycle theft has consistently been bicycle compound one, which is the only compound staffed by a Customer Service Officer.

CSOs are students hired through University Transportation and Parking Services to guard the compound during two-hour shift rotations, six times a day, not including nights or weekends, CSO Aaron Martinez said.

Bicycle Compound One, is the largest and most popular on campus because the compound is the most accessible to the Guy West bridge bike trail, said CSO Sean Green.

A thief would want to steal a mountain bike the most because their price range is anywhere from $60 to $915, which would make it easy to turn a quick $30 or $50 profit, Hamrick said.

It seems that anyone can look at a bike with even the smallest amount of background knowledge about bike models and be able tell which bike is more expensive than another, said Andrew Linder, who has ridden his bike to campus for the last three years.

“It is the difference between a BMW and a Honda – a thief can look at a bike and tell which one is a Price Club bike and which one could turn a heftier profit,” Linder said.

The campus bicycle compounds are intended to deter bicycle theft, but bicycles are left in compounds at the owner’s own risk.

“I don’t feel safer parking my bike here because the CSO just sits over there, but it is better than leaving my bike secluded,” senior Adam Hagen said.

One of the stolen bicycles this month was a red and black Galant motocross bicycle left in the compound on Jan. 26 and reported stolen on Feb. 20.

“One hundred and eighty bikes can easily be held here (in bike compound one). In the spring, when it gets warmer, there are over 200 bicycles here,” Martinez said. “The compound is left unlocked overnight, and people leave their bikes here overnight and over days at a time.”

Some bike stores suggest that the best way to deter bike theft is for the owner to dismantle the front wheel on their bike and use a U-lock such as a “Kryptolok,” made by the Kryptonite company, Linder said.

“(We) expect a rise in crimes of opportunity, during the spring season and recommend that the best way to protect a bike against potential thieves is to follow our instructions and ride a cheaper bike to campus and fill out a free registration card to license the bicycle,” Hamrick said. ” The chances of bicycle recovery are low, but increase significantly if a person’s bike is licensed.”

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