Crime & Safety

Cyclists Beware: Bike Thefts Increase in Fairfax County

The Fairfax County Police Department offers the following tips on preventing bike thefts.

By Raytevia Evans

From Sept. 1, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2013, the Fairfax County Police Department has received 361 reports of bikes stolen in the county — a 36 percent increase from 265 reports in the same time period in 2011-2012.

According to reports by FCPD crime analysts, 86 of the 361 bicycle thefts in that time period were reported in the McLean District. Reports show that many of the bicycles are stolen when residents leave their garage doors open.

FCPD crime prevention officers are advising residents to take precautions to avoid these incidents. CPOs provided the following tips to prevent bicycle thefts:

  • Close garage doors.
  • Invest in a hardened steel U-lock.
  • Don’t leave bicycles outside for days, or nights, on end. Thieves may be watching and may target “unused” bicycles.
  • Consider installing motion sensor lights or alarms on your property.
  • Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number; this will aid in recovery should your bike be stolen.
  • Consider registering your bicycle on the National Bike Registry.
  • Report the stolen item online.


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