Minneapolis Police Roll Out a Bike Registry
Minnesota is a bicycle loving state, but every year thousands of bikes are stolen in Minneapolis. Many are recovered but only a small percentage get returned to their owners.
Minneapolis police want to change that, so they have created an on-line bike registry. All you have to do is get online and put in the serial number, a description, and email address.
Shay Leppaner loves riding his bike.
"It's definitely an extension of me," Leppaner said.
Since he doesn't have a car it is his only mode of transportation. He also had someone steal a bike from him.
"A bike becomes so personal, when it disappears you feel like someone's taken a piece of you," Leppaner said.
Just down the road from Shay, was Sarah Hebel. She also had a bike stolen. To make things worse, it was last year during her welcome week as a freshman at the U of M.
"It was a new bike I had just gotten it for my birthday that year and I was really excited to be able to ride it around. And then it was gone. I was pretty upset, I was crying," Hebel said.
To help prevent a theft you need a good lock. Natalia Mendez over at Freewheel Bike Shop on Cedar recommends a U-lock and cable system.
"Wheels are an easy target so it's good to put it through a rear wheel and the frame. If you've got the quick release, grab that cable, loop it through one leg, grab it through the other, and loop it through the other leg and secure it to whatever pole you're going to be using at the time. Don't forget to lock it up and you should be ready to go," Mendez said.
Nothing is foolproof but the combination of a lock and registering it increases your odds of seeing and riding your bike again.
Anyone can register but the system only works if the Minneapolis police recover your bike.
Learn more on the online registry by clicking here.
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