An uptick of electric scooter and bike thefts around UNC campus led to university police warning students to protect their mini motor vehicles.
An Alert Carolina shared Friday said the UNC Police Department is investigating the thefts, with a department spokesperson confirming to Chapelboro a combined 26 electric bikes and scooters were reported stolen between Jan. 1 and Mar. 21. Two others have since been reported as well since the alert, according to the UNC crime log, and 13 have been reported in the month of March.
According to the Alert Carolina and the crime log — which tracks 911 calls and reports to the police department — the thefts have ranged from residence halls, academic buildings, and the UNC Hospitals campus. Many of the recent investigations are still open, with UNC Police saying there are presently no suspects in the thefts.
With the popularity of electric scooters and bicycles rising in recent years, so have the frequency of thefts. UNC Police have shared past Alert Carolinas to warn students about strings of thefts, including in Nov. 2022 and Sep. 2023.
UNC requires electric scooter-users on campus to park their motor vehicles in designated areas and to register them through the campus Transportation & Parking Department. The university says doing so, as well as using a U-lock or other secure devices when storing a scooter, should help prevent thefts or aid recovery efforts in case they are lost. While registering e-bikes is not required, the university encourages owners to still do it because it improves authorities ability to recover it if stolen.
Additional safety tips shared by the university include:
- Using a secondary lock for the wheels of the vehicles
- Choosing well-lit or popular areas to park e-bikes and scooters next to each other
- Installing a GPS tracker on the e-bike or e-scooter
- Modifying the bike or scooter with unique identifiers, like stickers or accessories
More e-scooter safety information through UNC can be found here, and bicycle safety information can be found here.
Campus police said Friday anyone with information potentially helpful to the ongoing investigation is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigations Division at 919-966-2120. If anyone notices “suspicious activity” around bike racks or the scooter parking areas, they are encouraged to call 911 immediately.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
Police: String of Vehicle Break-Ins Reported at UNCA recent rash of vehicle break-ins led the UNC Police Department to issue an Alert Carolina to the campus community on Wednesday.
UNC Trustees Approve Demolition of Carrington Hall; New Designs RevealedThe UNC Board of Trustees took a step closer to the “renewal” of Carrington Hall on campus, as they approved the demolition of the current School of Nursing building and designs for its reconstruction. Having first been discussed during Wednesday’s Budget, Finance and Infrastructure Committee meeting, the measures were unanimously approved by trustees as part […]
UNC Police Receive Report of 'Unwanted Sexual Touching' on BusThe UNC Police Department issued an Alert Carolina message on Thursday night to the campus community, sharing details of an “unwanted sexual touching” that happened two days prior. The message said a campus security authority received a report and the incident happened on Tuesday, January 10 on a Chapel Hill Transit bus. The vehicle was […]
UNC Police Charge 1 for Drug Possession, Resisting Arrest in Front of LibraryThe UNC Police Department charged an Orange County resident, who is not affiliated with the university, for drug possession and resisting arrest on Monday night. Public safety officials shared a statement on Wednesday afternoon confirming the incident to the campus community, saying UNC Police officers responded to a complaint of drug use near the entrance […]
UNC Police Investigating Sexual Assault Report in Residence HallEditor’s Note: The following story contains mention of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers. The UNC Police Department is investigating a report of sexual assault, where an unidentified person purportedly followed a student into their dorm room. The university shared an Alert Carolina message on Saturday at 10:47 p.m. to inform the […]
UNC Police Investigating Thefts From Backpacks in Biology BuildingsThe UNC Police Department is urging students and campus community members to keep an eye on their belongings after reports of thefts in several academic halls. An Alert Carolina message shared on Monday afternoon said police are investigating multiple larcenies and attempted larcenies in four buildings: Fordham Hall, Wilson Hall, Coker Hall, and the Genome […]
UNC Police Investigating Reports of Larceny at First-Year DormThe UNC Police Department is seeking the public’s help in its investigation of recent reports of larceny and break-ins at Hinton James Residence Hall. UNC shared an Alert Carolina message with its campus community on Thursday shortly before 7 p.m., saying three reports of such incidents at the freshman dorm, which is located off Manning […]
UNC Taps Greensboro Chief as New Head of Campus PoliceUNC announced Brian James, the current Chief of the Greensboro Police Department, is going to be its next campus police chief. The university shared the selection through a Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz letter sent to the campus community Friday morning. James, who said earlier this year he would be retiring from his position in Greensboro after […]
UNC Warns of Vehicle Break-Ins at SECU Family House, Friday Center Park and RideA string of vehicle break-ins reported at two university properties in Chapel Hill led UNC Police to alert the public on Wednesday afternoon.
UNC Warns Students of Recent Electric Scooter, E-Bike Thefts Across CampusAn uptick of electric scooter and bike thefts around UNC campus led to university police warning students to protect their mini motor vehicles.
›
