Sacramento State police are notifying students to make certain to lock up their bikes after a string of thefts took place on campus this week. Sergeant Kelly Clark said most of them have been stolen mainly from the University Union and Library Quad areas and believes a person or group is targeting mainly mountain bikes.

Vishal Ream-Rao, junior environmental studies major, said he usually parks in the bike compound by the west end of the Guy West Bridge. University Transportation & Parking Services (UTAPS) runs the compound, provides secure storage and has a community student officer on hand to oversee the area.

Ream-Rao said he does not worry any more about bike theft on campus than elsewhere.

“Downtown has a lot of theft, I’ve heard,” Ream-Rao said. Some students think appearance can make a difference as to whether or not their bikes are safe. “Sometimes it’s just the look of the lock,” Ream-Rao said when asked what might ward off a thief.

Ben Rinn, junior geography major, feels that having a cheaper bike and locking it up are sufficient security measures against theft.

“It’s not really an expensive bike and I lock it through the tire and frame,” Rinn said. “I think if you just lock up all parts of your bike it’s not too bad.” Ream-Rao takes extra precautions to safeguard his road bike, including locking up both tires and the seat. “I use multiple locks,” Ream-Rao said. “I try not to use the cable locks because I’ve heard they’re cut pretty easily.”

While locks may not be fail-safe against thieves, Clark said the best one to deter a thief with is a thick cable lock, rather than the commonly favored metal U-type lock. “Those don’t seem to dissuade people at all, there’s multiple ways to defeat those,” Clark said.

Recording serial numbers also drastically increases the chances of a stolen bike being recovered. Students may license their bike with the Police Department, which will enter the serial number and description into a national stolen property data base.

An engraver is also available for use on loan from the department front counter for students that wish to engrave their driver’s license or identification card number on their bike frame.

Clark said not riding an expensive bicycle to school can help keep thieves away. Students can make a difference simply by reporting anything that strikes them as suspicious.

“We really want to encourage awareness,” Clark said.

Julia Baum can be reached at [email protected].