Due to the recent increase in bike thefts during
September and October, Student Government passed a bill on Oct. 23 to partially fund the LSU Police Department’s bait
bike program.
Although the average bikes stolen per month has decreased from 2012, in the past two months there was a total of 27 bikes stolen from campus.
LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said the sharp increase in thefts is reason
for concern.
“We want people to be aware of the trends that we are seeing and report suspicious activity to us as soon as possible,” he said.
Lalonde said LSUPD is currently working on several “proactive measures” to end the bike thefts, but would not
elaborate further.
However, SG recently passed the bill for the bike bait program which involves purchasing a bike with a GPS planted inside in order to track the stolen bait bike and make an arrest, said UCFY
Senator Joshua Do.
Do said he collaborated with other members of SG after they were approached by LSUPD to reinstate the bait bike program, which was last used four years ago.
LSUPD came to SG for funds to purchase the GPS for the bike and the 12 month subscription for the service to track the bait bike, following the increase in bike thefts, mainly on the northern part of campus, Do said.
He said executive members of SG were told by LSUPD the last time the program was implemented, more than 100 arrests resulted, only two being University students.
In addition to the arrests made for stolen bikes, officers would often encounter other stolen goods in the homes of the thieves, Do said.
Lalonde could not confirm the bike bait program was one of the measures being taken by LSUPD but said officers are aware of the thefts and are making more frequent patrols in areas with large numbers of bikes.
He said he encourages students to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity.
“If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t,” he said.
He mentioned in some instances of bike theft, bystanders witnessed the thefts but believed the thieves to be the owners of the bike that lock was being cut.
Lalonde said when chaining bikes, it is always better to use a U-shaped lock.
“In almost all instances [of bike theft] it’s the chains or cables that are cut,” he said.
The U-shaped locks provide more sturdy protection and a greater challenge to thieves, who will often bypass them for the easier to cut cables, Lalonde said.
Lalonde said he recognizes bikes can sometimes be a student’s only mode of transportation and registering bikes with the police can help return a stolen bike to its owner.