Several bikes have been stolen on and around the Syracuse University campus this summer, according to the Department of Public Safety.

In the three-month period of May 14 to Aug 14, 19 of the 51 larcenies reported on campus have been bike larcenies, said Jennifer Horvath, public information officer for DPS.

A rise in bike larcenies during the summer is a pattern seen annually by DPS, she said.

“It’s a seasonal thing,” she said. “Obviously, people don’t ride their bikes in the winter time, so pretty much every summer we see a little bit of a rise in bike larcenies on campus.”

On Monday, DPS tweeted from its account, @SyracuseDPS, “We had a couple more bike larcenies this weekend, so here’s your weekly reminder to lock your bikes securely.”

Neither DPS nor the Syracuse Police Department has made any arrests or connections among the bike thefts. In years past, Horvath said, groups of teenagers are often responsible for strings of thefts. But no such connections have been made yet this year.

Horvath described the thefts as “crimes of opportunity.” Thieves are more inclined to look for bikes that are unlocked or are secured with locks that can be easily cut or clipped, like cable locks. Cable locks have been found clipped beneath bike racks several times, Horvath said.

Heavy-duty locks are the best way to prevent a bike from being stolen, Horvath said. The Department of Public Safety recommends the U-Bolt Lock.

Said Horvath: “It’s really kind of a simple thing to make it a lot tougher for somebody to take away your bike.”

Published on August 19, 2012 at 2:11 pm

Contact Casey: cffabris@syr.edu | @caseyfabris