Bike bandits on the campus

Eight bicycles have been reported stolen from the MHCC main campus since the second week of fall term.

It’s part of an uptick in bike thefts recorded at several, but not all, Portland-area community college campuses this fall.

Bikes have been stolen from bike racks in parking lots around the Mt. Hood campus, including those near buildings 10, 12, 13, 17 and the HPE building, and from the bike rack of a vehicle in Parking Lot D, Public Safety officials said. The thefts have all occurred since Sept. 30, with three occurring on Oct. 16.

Elsewhere, Portland Community College (PCC) has seen a record amount of bike thefts, with 10 bikes stolen in October alone.

During fall term, PCC has seen 13 bike thefts on all its campuses combined, said Ken Goodwin, PCC director of public safety.

Clackamas Community College (CCC has had only one bike theft since this school year began.

Suzy Ishlam, CCC campus safety director, said the CCC campuses may have had fewer bike thefts due to a smaller cyclist population.

The number of regular bike riders at Mt. Hood is not particularly large, making the impact of the thefts this term more profound.

From results of MHCC transportation survey taken in June 2012, it is estimated there are about 171 trips to campus each week by school staff either by bike or on foot, an average of 34 trips per day.  No data is available on student bike trips.

Wayne Feagle, director of MHCC Public Safety, said his department is concentrating patrols on areas where the most crime occurs and is urging student volunteers to keep close watch on the bike racks.

Public Safety has also installed signs near the bike racks urging owners to take precautions, such as locking their bike properly and with a secure lock.

All the bikes stolen at Mt. Hood were locked with cables.

Public Safety suggests that cyclists instead use heavy-duty locks, such as the U-locks sold in the Bookstore for $39.99.

Other precautions bike owners should take: register their bike at www.nationalbikeregistry.com; take photos of the bike; report suspicious activity; and take all valuables with them.

Both CCC and PCC report recommending similar measures.

Locally, bike theft hasn’t just been a Mt. Hood problem.

Feagle said the Gresham Police Department has recorded a recent increase in bike thefts and has been proactive, including actively stopping cyclists to check if the bike they are riding is stolen.

Feagle said he believes bikes are being stolen not only because they are often an easy target, but also because their ownership is hard to prove if the owner does not register the bike or put distinctive marking on it.

Cameras are not currently aimed at the bike racks at MHCC, but are a priority as new funds become available, Feagle said.

PCC’s Goodwin said several racks are under video surveillance, but the images have not been able so far to identify the culprits.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity at around the Mt. Hood bike racks should call Public Safety at (503) 491-7911 if the crime is occurring.

Advocate Staff