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'U' Tries Bait Bike Program To Nab Thieves

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May 6, 2009 10:40 pm US/Central

'U' Tries Bait Bike Program To Nab Thieves

Reporting
Heather Brown
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― The University of Minnesota Police Department is starting a new program this fall that targets bike thieves.

It's called "bait bike" and it's worked well at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bike thefts are down 30 percent there.

With a bait bike, a hidden GPS system is planted somewhere on the frame of the bike. Only a few people know where the bike is and how many are scattered across campus. Students can also put a sticker on their bike that says, "This Could Be A Bait Bike."

"If people know there's going to be bikes out there with these tracking devices on them and they're thinking about stealing a bike, that will at least make them think twice about doing it," said University of Minnesota Lt. Troy Buhta.

Medical student Tyler Drake had his bike stolen last month. Someone cut the cable lock while he was in a Monday morning class. His bike was one of 100 stolen on campus this school year. That's up from 68 last year.

"I was pretty upset. I've been riding my bike for two years to school and it just like a feeling of hopelessness. I walked out and it was gone," said Drake.

He now uses a $50 Kryptonite U-lock, parks his bike at different ramps and has written down the serial number for the bike. Police recommend all students have a proof of receipt and the serial number for their bike because it makes it easier to recover the bike once it's found.

Drake believes the $1000 price tag for each GPS unit is worth it. His new bike cost $500, plus the new lock.

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