Spring/Summer 2012 CSBR Theft Statistics

Based on reports received and posted to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry for April & May 2012:

Reported thefts:128 (+21% from 2011)

No Lock: 32

Cable Lock: 45

Newer U-Lock w/flat Key: 14 (-5% from 2011)

Security Chain: 2

Other: 34

Defeated Fence/Post: 13 (-3% from 2011)

Garage/Common Area: 52

Knows serial number: 48 (-4% from 2011)

Change in overall thefts reported could be due to weather, could be due to increased CSBR awareness, could be due to sun spots and crop circles. Stats on U-locks and defeated fences and sucker poles is encouraging, though the continued use of cable locks and thefts from garages, porches and common areas of oftentimes unlocked bikes is disappointing.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on June 6, 2012 at 1:42pm

Add to that, they should also refuse service for bikes with serial numbers scratched off.

h' said:

Very few shops do not keep a record of serial numbers of new bikes. They're actually required to notify the city of the sale, with identifying info.

What I'd like to see is shops writing your serial number down on your ticket as a matter of course when you bring a bike in for service.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on June 6, 2012 at 1:46pm

I understand the intent, but asking businesses to refuse to accept business may be a tall order. How do we know that the person in possession of the bike wasn't a good faith purchaser (as opposed to a thief)?

Just Will said:

Add to that, they should also refuse service for bikes with serial numbers scratched off.

[snip]

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 10, 2012 at 2:19pm

Here's an update to include the month of June 2012 (April and May together had 128 theft reports; June had 136:

Based on reports received and posted to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry for April, May & June 2012:

Reported thefts: 264

No Lock: 65 (25%)

Cable Lock: 101 (38%)

Newer U-Lock w/flat Key: 33 (12%)

Security Chain: 2 (1%)

Other: 63 (24%)

Defeated Sign/Fence Post: 26 (10%)

Garage/Common Area/Porch: 96 (36%)

Knows serial number: 101 (38%)

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 10, 2012 at 2:49pm

You are correct. The registry itself has pull down menus for 3 different types of cables (combo, keyed, and cable w/padlock). I group them as one. Older U-lock w/round key is a separate item which I include in "Other." "Other" also includes people who locked with a newer u-lock w/flat key, BUT only to itself; or to a wrought iron fence or a wooden railing which was obviously broken or cut.

The message I hope people will take away is that it's statistically still pretty safe to lock your bike with a u-lock to a bike rack. The vast majority of reports to the CSBR are of stolen bikes which were not locked, locked with a cable, or locked to an object which was insecure.

Cameron Puetz said:

Kevin

Am I correct that the way you're compiling your statistics, each theft falls into one and only one of the following categories:

No Lock: 65 (25%)
Cable Lock: 101 (38%)
Newer U-Lock w/flat Key: 33 (12%)
Security Chain: 2 (1%)
Other: 63 (24%)

Additionally each theft counted above may also fall into one of these catagories:

Defeated Sign/Fence Post: 26 (10%)
Garage/Common Area/Porch: 96 (36%)

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Permalink Reply by Emily Rose Giddings on July 10, 2012 at 4:39pm

My Red Univega Arrowspeed was just stolen yesterday. Red Handlebar tape with rear coaster brake and no handle brakes... :(

More info here: http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/192853

Please help me find it! Any ideas are welcome. You can email me at emilygiddings@gmail.com

Attachments:

univega2.jpg, 9 KB

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on July 10, 2012 at 10:04pm

I love statistics. I like the stats page on CSBR, but it's for "all time".

Kevin, any interest in helping me run a fundraising campaign to raise money to pay for an upgrade to the CSBR? (I understand it uses a really old system of Drupal and could probably use some design enhancements, especially to make it more mobile friendly.) I guess we should talk off CL about this (I've got a lot of ideas). The location part of the report form could be improved, too. When I got the raw data to do some analysis, I found tons of locations that were improperly written so a location analysis was difficult. I did find that the most reported "stolen from" location was the Clybourn Metra station.

I occasionally send PSA-style messages on my personal and Grid Chicago Twitter/Facebook accounts to ask people to immediately do four things:

1. Take a picture of them and their unlocked bicycle. (This helps show ownership of the bicycle.)

2. Record the serial number of their bicycle(s) in a safe place (I use Evernote for this).

3. Register their bicycle(s) with the Chicago Police Department (do it online).

4. Record their lock key's serial number in a safe place (many bike lock makers have key replacement programs).

When trying to disseminate theft prevention information to peers, I recommend the Chicago Bicycle Program's Theft Prevention webpage Theft Prevention webpage (which I mostly authored), and the Chicago Bike Map (which is very accessible at bike shops).

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 15, 2012 at 2:47pm

Would love any possible help with the upgrade process. Paul, the tech lead, has been too busy with work and family but does have kind of a roadmap from previous meeting/discussion and likely Paul has most of the same ideas.

Re: fund raising campaign: Make it So!

Steven Vance said:

I love statistics. I like the stats page on CSBR, but it's for "all time".

Kevin, any interest in helping me run a fundraising campaign to raise money to pay for an upgrade to the CSBR? (I understand it uses a really old system of Drupal and could probably use some design enhancements, especially to make it more mobile friendly.) I guess we should talk off CL about this (I've got a lot of ideas). The location part of the report form could be improved, too. When I got the raw data to do some analysis, I found tons of locations that were improperly written so a location analysis was difficult. I did find that the most reported "stolen from" location was the Clybourn Metra station.

I occasionally send PSA-style messages on my personal and Grid Chicago Twitter/Facebook accounts to ask people to immediately do four things:

1. Take a picture of them and their unlocked bicycle. (This helps show ownership of the bicycle.)

2. Record the serial number of their bicycle(s) in a safe place (I use Evernote for this).

3. Register their bicycle(s) with the Chicago Police Department (do it online).

4. Record their lock key's serial number in a safe place (many bike lock makers have key replacement programs).

When trying to disseminate theft prevention information to peers, I recommend the Chicago Bicycle Program's Theft Prevention webpage Theft Prevention webpage (which I mostly authored), and the Chicago Bike Map (which is very accessible at bike shops).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 15, 2012 at 2:49pm

Busy last couple of weeks . . . minor trend of Mondays and Fridays being heaviest, suggesting Tuesdays and Saturdays might be the busier days at our favorite fencing cesspool(s).

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 15, 2012 at 10:51pm

With a little less than an hour to go on July 15th, there have been 80 new reports to the CSBR for the month of July (historically the biggest bike theft month).

h' said:

[snip]

Busy last couple of weeks . . . minor trend of Mondays and Fridays being heaviest, suggesting Tuesdays and Saturdays might be the busier days at our favorite fencing cesspool(s).

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on July 15, 2012 at 10:58pm

Just noticed your homepage... did you hire a designer or is that your own 'work?'

:-)

Kevin C said:

With a little less than an hour to go on July 15th, there have been 80 new reports to the CSBR for the month of July (historically the biggest bike theft month).

h' said:

[snip]

Busy last couple of weeks . . . minor trend of Mondays and Fridays being heaviest, suggesting Tuesdays and Saturdays might be the busier days at our favorite fencing cesspool(s).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on July 15, 2012 at 10:59pm

Que?

h' said:

Just noticed your homepage... did you hire a designer or is that your own 'work?'

:-)

Kevin C said:

With a little less than an hour to go on July 15th, there have been 80 new reports to the CSBR for the month of July (historically the biggest bike theft month).

h' said:

[snip]

Busy last couple of weeks . . . minor trend of Mondays and Fridays being heaviest, suggesting Tuesdays and Saturdays might be the busier days at our favorite fencing cesspool(s).