Chicago Police Dept. Bike Registry????

Hi there, I saw mention of this on a thread, but would like elaboration...

My neighbor and I were talking about all the bike thefts this summer, and he asked me if it was possible to register one's bike BEFORE it gets stolen.   

I saw that the Chicago Police Dept. has a registry.  Has anyone registered?  How does it work?   Most importantly, is there a benefit to it - or not?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Amy on August 16, 2010 at 11:05am
I think this would be a great idea. (My bike shop did that for me).

I also notice that when I've asked neighbors if they know where their serial numbers are located, they often don't know, and they often don't know how important that serial # is until it's too late. A little "educational outreach" would be great as well. People really appreciate it! I know I did!

H3N3 said:
So, Nick . . . while we're on the subject . . . what would it take to get bike shops to record the serial number on service receipts as a service to the customer? Do any do this already? In the situations I've been involved in, such a receipt would be taken as proof of ownership.
Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on August 16, 2010 at 3:07pm
OK, a wee bit of educational outreach here. The serial number of your bicycle is most likely located on the bottom of your bottom bracket shell. If it isn't there, it may be on the base of the headtube or on the rear dropout on the non-drive side (usually). You are looking for the series of letters/numbers stamped into the metal. Numbers printed on, say, the headbadge of a 1980's Schwinn are a date code. Now, once you have located the serial number for each of your bicycles, keep a registry of these either on paper in a safe location or in a computer file that you back-up in various places and on different devices. It won't hurt to list with each recorded serial number identifying characteristics of your bikes, like components, wheelsets, tires, saddles, etc. These may come in handy if your bike is ever stolen.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 16, 2010 at 3:27pm
It looks like this...
The people who have my permission to call me at home know who they are...

H3N3 said:
Took me ten, including a mock registration (would take me another 20 to get the serial numbers off my bikes but I'm going to do so now).
Fortunately it allows you to input anything you like in fields that are "required"-- it would take me half an hour to find the phone number of the shop I bought one bike at, as it's been out of business for years.
It would take me half an hour to find the guy's contact info I bought another bike from several years ago, and I'm sure I don't have a last name for him.
There's not really anything printable here, except the main page with a one-line listing?

Kevin Conway said:
Saw your post. Went to the link and created a new user name and password. Logged into the online bike registration page. Didn't register my bike, because I already have. Took me two and a half minutes. I stand corrected.

spacemodular said:
I tried to use it - there log in didn't work. Not exactly 2 minutes either...


Kevin Conway said:
You can register online here. If a stolen or abandoned bike is recovered by the police, they will check it against the registry. If it's registered, they'll contact the owner. If it's not, it goes to the warehouse for the quarterly auctions. Registration is painless. Everyone should take the 2 minutes it takes.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 16, 2010 at 3:32pm
It looks like this...
The people who have my permission to call me at home know who they are...

I keep the printout with my receipt and other documents about the bike. And incidentally, as of 12/1/08, Turin printed the Serial Number on the receipt.

H3N3 said:
Took me ten, including a mock registration (would take me another 20 to get the serial numbers off my bikes but I'm going to do so now).
Fortunately it allows you to input anything you like in fields that are "required"-- it would take me half an hour to find the phone number of the shop I bought one bike at, as it's been out of business for years. It would take me half an hour to find the guy's contact info I bought another bike from several years ago, and I'm sure I don't have a last name for him. There's not really anything printable here, except the main page with a one-line listing?

Kevin Conway said:
Saw your post. Went to the link and created a new user name and password. Logged into the online bike registration page. Didn't register my bike, because I already have. Took me two and a half minutes. I stand corrected.

spacemodular said:
I tried to use it - there log in didn't work. Not exactly 2 minutes either...

Kevin Conway said:
You can register online here. If a stolen or abandoned bike is recovered by the police, they will check it against the registry. If it's registered, they'll contact the owner. If it's not, it goes to the warehouse for the quarterly auctions. Registration is painless. Everyone should take the 2 minutes it takes.
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Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 16, 2010 at 4:53pm
Registering my bike with the CPD was one of the first things I did when I got my new bike, along with the National Bike Registry and my own cataloging in terms of writing down stuff and taking photos.

It can't hurt. And you can do it online. So what's the point in not doing it?
Permalink Reply by Amy on August 17, 2010 at 2:17am
Sorry, my post didn't end up where I thought it would. I meant "educational outreach" that bike shops could do at point of purchase or service. (Personally, I know where my serial numbers are located and my bike shop put at least one of them on a receipt I have).


Moc Artsy said:
OK, a wee bit of educational outreach here. The serial number of your bicycle is most likely located on the bottom of your bottom bracket shell. If it isn't there, it may be on the base of the headtube or on the rear dropout on the non-drive side (usually). You are looking for the series of letters/numbers stamped into the metal. Numbers printed on, say, the headbadge of a 1980's Schwinn are a date code. Now, once you have located the serial number for each of your bicycles, keep a registry of these either on paper in a safe location or in a computer file that you back-up in various places and on different devices. It won't hurt to list with each recorded serial number identifying characteristics of your bikes, like components, wheelsets, tires, saddles, etc. These may come in handy if your bike is ever stolen.
Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 17, 2010 at 3:41am
I think some bike shops do that (Rudy's on Irving Park is one I know of).


Amy Abramson said:
Sorry, my post didn't end up where I thought it would. I meant "educational outreach" that bike shops could do at point of purchase or service. (Personally, I know where my serial numbers are located and my bike shop put at least one of them on a receipt I have).


Moc Artsy said:
OK, a wee bit of educational outreach here. The serial number of your bicycle is most likely located on the bottom of your bottom bracket shell. If it isn't there, it may be on the base of the headtube or on the rear dropout on the non-drive side (usually). You are looking for the series of letters/numbers stamped into the metal. Numbers printed on, say, the headbadge of a 1980's Schwinn are a date code. Now, once you have located the serial number for each of your bicycles, keep a registry of these either on paper in a safe location or in a computer file that you back-up in various places and on different devices. It won't hurt to list with each recorded serial number identifying characteristics of your bikes, like components, wheelsets, tires, saddles, etc. These may come in handy if your bike is ever stolen.
Permalink Reply by Amy on August 17, 2010 at 8:32am
I was thinking some of the things people suggested on this thread could be a good sticky, e.g.:
"Things to do BEFORE your bike gets stolen!" (Haven't had a chance to see if there's already something like this on CL, sorry, don't yell at me. ( : I think I did see something about "uglifying" one's bike. Was that on Mr. Bike??? Anyway...I digress.)

Re. bike shops (and perhaps this is overly ambitious), but what I'm thinking is it would be great to get them to partner up with us/proactively get involved (that was sort of my motivation with my inquiry re. the Police Dept registry as well). Ya know, build bridges, bla bla bla.

The goal would be to get shops to put that serial number on a receipt AND what's more, to get customers to ask for it. Some kind of awareness project, like "It's summer in Chicago, do you know where your Serial Number is? Sponsored by the Stolen Bike Registry!" ( :

On a personal note: My own bikes were stolen a few weeks ago. And, I would hate for people to lose their chance at recovering their bikes because they didn't have their serial numbers. More generally, based on talking with my neighbors, I think a lot of people believe we can't do anything about bike/property theft, but ...yes, we can!!! Well, at least we can try.... ( :
Permalink Reply by Shawn C. on August 18, 2010 at 1:17am
#1 I was moved to register mine...

H3N3 said:
Amy Abramson said:
I was thinking some of the things people suggested on this thread could be a good sticky, e.g.:
"Things to do BEFORE your bike gets stolen!" (Haven't had a chance to see if there's already something like this on CL, sorry, don't yell at me. ( : I think I did see something about "uglifying" one's bike. Was that on Mr. Bike??? Anyway...I digress.)

Re. bike shops (and perhaps this is overly ambitious), but what I'm thinking is it would be great to get them to partner up with us/proactively get involved (that was sort of my motivation with my inquiry re. the Police Dept registry as well). Ya know, build bridges, bla bla bla.

The goal would be to get shops to put that serial number on a receipt AND what's more, to get customers to ask for it. Some kind of awareness project, like "It's summer in Chicago, do you know where your Serial Number is? Sponsored by the Stolen Bike Registry!" ( :

On a personal note: My own bikes were stolen a few weeks ago. And, I would hate for people to lose their chance at recovering their bikes because they didn't have their serial numbers. More generally, based on talking with my neighbors, I think a lot of people believe we can't do anything about bike/property theft, but ...yes, we can!!! Well, at least we can try.... ( :

Two thumbs up, Amy.

Guessing you may have followed this link from the registry:
Important: See Mr Bike's tips on IDing your bike before it gets stolen!>>


This thread doesn't die until at least 5 more people report that they've been moved to record their serial numbers.
Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on August 18, 2010 at 1:38am
Chicago Police Department "urges" you to register.

What is "ClearPath"?



Kevin Conway said:
You can register online here. If a stolen or abandoned bike is recovered by the police, they will check it against the registry. If it's registered, they'll contact the owner. If it's not, it goes to the warehouse for the quarterly auctions. Registration is painless. Everyone should take the 2 minutes it takes.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 18, 2010 at 2:15am
The web portal to expand on the CAPS program:


Michael J Blane said:
Chicago Police Department "urges" you to register.

What is "ClearPath"?
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Permalink Reply by Amy on August 18, 2010 at 3:50am
Yep, that was the Mr. Bike link. But, I only got to it AFTER my bikes got stolen. I have no bikes left to register ) :

What do you think of the "sticky" idea?

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