webadmin posted on December 13, 2011 14:25
According to the National Crime Prevention Council, about 1.5 million bicycles are stolen each year; 50% of these bicycles are eventually recovered by law enforcement but only 2% are ever returned to their rightful owner.
In 2011, 83 bicycles have been reported stolen to the Statesville Police Department; 43 bicycles have been recovered as “found property” and only 5 have been returned to their rightful owner. Reasons for such a low return rate include failure to report the theft by the owner; insufficient details about the bicycle to positively identify it; no proof of ownership; and failure by the owner to update their contact information so police can locate them in the event the bicycle is recovered at a later date.
The Statesville Police Department has developed a new bicycle registry to combat this ever-growing problem. Based on the 2011 Herman Goldstein award winning problem solving strategy implemented by the Transport for London (UK), the program features:
- FREE, local, real-time database used by law enforcement to quickly identify owners of stolen or found bicycles.
- Maintained & distributed by the Statesville Police Department via Internet / email.
- Optional national registration available via National Bike Registry for small fee.
- Registration methods available: Point of sale location, online via email, in-person at the Statesville Police Department, and at local residences via appointment.
- Use of covert technology to strategically place identifiers and owner applied markings on bicycle.
Point of sale locations include Walmart, First Flight Bicycles, and Riddle’s Schwinn Cyclery in Statesville. For online registration, go to the Statesville Police Department web site at http://www.ci.statesville.nc.us/Departments/PoliceDepartment; locate and complete the registration form under the “Impact Unit” page and include required supporting documentation.
To make an appointment to come to the Police Department or arrange a home visit to register your bicycle, contact Officer Chan Austin @ 704.878.3442 or via email @ spd@statesvillenc.net.
For more information about the program, contact Sergeant Daniel Miglin @ 704.878.3522 or via email @ dmiglin@statesvillenc.net.