The Chainlink

Bike thefts jump during a pandemic: ‘It’s a huge problem’

Police have seen about a 6% increase in thefts this year, while the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry has seen a nearly 50% spike.

As the demand for bikes has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, Chicago has experienced an uptick in bike thefts this year, newly released statistics show.

So far this year, about 208 bikes have been stolen per month within city limits — an increase from the 195 monthly thefts reported in 2019, according to data obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Many more are not reported, and most are not recovered.

The trend has been felt among bike advocates across the city. The Chicago Stolen Bike Registry, which allows people to report bike thefts so others can keep an eye out for them, told the Sun-Times they’ve received a 48% increase in submissions through October, compared to 2019.

Chicago Police Sgt. Pete Best, of the 1st District, says the bike thefts are part of “a nationwide epidemic,” and that people are stealing the bikes so they can resell them for a quick buck, rather than for personal use.

His district, which covers the Loop and the Near North Side, has seen 12 bike thefts since Sept. 16, prompting him to send a community alert to residents warning them how to best secure their bikes.

“A lot of the bikes are being stolen for financial gain. We’ve noticed an uptick in bikes being pawned,’’ Best said.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/11/23/21554640/bike-thefts-illino...

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