The UNC Police Department is investigating a recent string of bicycle and electric bike thefts from campus.
The university shared an Alert Carolina message with the campus community shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday. It said these suspected thefts have taken place over several weeks in the north campus area, as well as the Adams School of Dentistry.
A spokesperson for UNC later confirmed to Chapelboro that university police believe there have been 23 bicycles taken from campus since August 1.
UNC Police said in most of these reported cases of missing bikes, cable locks have been cut to free them. To help prevent such thefts, the department is recommending campus community members use a U-lock to secure bicycles whenever possible.
Police also recommended a university resource to bicyclists: registering with the UNC Transportation and Parking Department. The UNC Police Department has a link to the registration shared on its website’s home page, which is technically required for bicycles regularly used on campus. By filling out the online form or going to the university’s Public Safety Building to complete registration, the bike’s serial number will be stored in case it is stolen or lost. Registered cyclists also get a discount on purchasing U-locks through UNC.
UNC Police said anyone with information that might aid its investigation of this string of bicycle thefts, or anyone who has seen recent suspicious activity, should call 911. Additional safety tips from the police department can be found on its website, while more Alert Carolina messages can be found on the resource’s website.
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