Catching bike thieves, one episode at a time

Imagine paying about $270 on a beautiful brand new bike for your freshman year of college, knowing this is your only source of transportation. But the minute you walk out of class, your bike is no longer there.

Many people, especially college students, rely on bicycles to get from one location to the next because it is simply affordable and efficient. Over the past three years, DePaul University has reported 115 bike thefts, with 28 of them happening this 2011-2012 school year, according to Sgt. Maureen Green from DePaul Public Safety.

But how can we stop this problem from occurring? Ingo Lou, a producer at Sweet Currant Productions, along with a group of “tech-savvy cyclists” who are also students, are creating a new reality-based web series called “To Catch a Bike Thief”. With a bait bike, GPS tracking systems, and recording cameras, these bike thieves’ will not go undetected anymore and will hopefully suffer the consequences for their actions. The creators of “To Catch a Bike Thief” have all felt the frustration of losing their bike to theft, which inspired them to produce a show that can help bring awareness to the bike theft epidemic.

When asked why she thinks college campuses experience the most bike theft, Lou responded, “College campuses are often secluded, which means there’s plenty of cover of darkness that bike thieves can use to their advantage. Colleges often have their own campus security forces that are limited by budgets and staffing, making bike theft a much lower priority.”

Since college campuses lack security and bright lights, it creates opportunity for bike thieves to commit numerous crimes. College students and even residents who live in the area can help eliminate this problem by reporting any suspicious activity that may lead to bike theft.

Richard Corral, a freshman at DePaul University, recently lost his bike to theft. When asked what he thinks about a show that captures bike thieves in the act, he said, “I think it would be interesting to see how the thieves go about stealing the bike and also to see what precautions they take before stealing. If people can see how bike thieves commit these crimes then more people will report any suspicious activity they witness.”

Eric Regalbuto, a sophomore psychology and anthropology student at DePaul, is no stranger to bike theft. He has had three bikes stolen in the past, the most recent being last year.

“My current bike at the time was locked on the rack just outside the entrance to Corcoran Hall, where the theft took place at an estimated time of around 2 p.m., in broad daylight,” he said.

Regalbuto believes the best protection against bike theft is strong, secure bike locks. While “To Catch a Bike Thief” may make potential bike thieves hesitate before they commit their next crime, he does not think the show will be very effective in preventing future thefts, he said.

“There are so many bikes in greater Chicagoland, and one can only track so many at a time,” he said. “I do not think the presence of this show will really put that much of a dent in the bicycle chop-shop business. That does not necessarily mean that I do not think this show would be a good idea, though.”

Tips for preventing your bike from being stolen includes keeping your bike in a safe, secure, and well lit, populace location. Using multiple locks, instead of just one will help scare away potential predators.

The teaser trailer was released in February and the Pilot for “To Catch a Bike Thief” will begin filming in Vancouver, BC and will be aired on April 2, 2012 at www.tocatchabiketheif.com and www.facebook.com/tocatchabikethief.