Special Report: Bike thefts surge in Bend

There’s a new business making its way into Bend. It’s causing a headache for law enforcement and heartache for some residents.

And worst of all, business is booming.

“Bike thieves are making a living in Bend right now,” says Pine Mountain Sports Owner Dan McGarigle.

According to the Bend Police Department, reported bicycle thefts are up 29.3 percent in 2015. Sgt, Dan Ritchie says in October alone 31 bicycles were reported stolen in the city.

“About 50 percent of bike thefts nationally go unreported, and that also becomes problematic for us,” Ritchie says.

When a stolen bicycle is recovered, it goes to a storage locker at the police department. If the owner doesn’t claim his or her bicycle in 90 days, it’s off to a police auction.

“The number of bikes we actually return to the owner represents a very, very low number,” Ritchie says.

Why the recent uptick?

McGarigle says bicycle sales are only going up at his outdoor sports store in Bend. More sales mean more bikes; and more bikes means pricey options for thieves.

“Our average bike sale in the United States is about $450 per unit sold. In Bend, Oregon it can on average be up to five times that amount,” McGarigle says.

Bend Police say mountain bikes are a prime target on the High Desert.

“That’s probably the most common theft that we’re experiencing,” says Ritchie. “It’s very easy for someone to make a lot of money in a short amount of time with a bike like that.”

How quickly? We are showing surveillance video given to us by Bend police of a pair of bicycles stolen by a thief in 12 minutes outside of the West Side Tavern.

“They know what they’re looking for, and they’re very good at what they do,” says McGarigle.

Bend police say this isn’t a failure by their department. In fact, they started putting “bait bikes” in various places around town in an effort to lure thieves and catch them in the act.

“To date this year, we’ve made 15 arrests, and compared to the national standard, that’s pretty good,” Ritchie says. “We’ve also recovered $47,000 worth of (stolen) bicycles.”

“We just need to get people on board to continue knocking these numbers down,” he adds.

For bicycle owners, the best defense is a good offense. Proactive measures include taking a picture of your bicycle’s serial number right when you buy it. Also, the type of lock can make a major difference as well. For more tips, and the story of one victim who got her bike back, watch the video story above.

And for more tips, visit this site: https://btaoregon.org/2012/09/five-dos-and-donts-to-keep-your-bike-from-getting-stolen/