Durango-area residents are being advised to take extra care when securing their bikes, as the number of bike thefts have increased significantly in 2024.
Since early July, 28 bikes have been reported stolen to the Durango Police Department, compared to just 16 during the same period in 2023.
For the year, 81 bikes have been reported stolen, up from 36 through the first nine months in 2023. According to DPD Cmdr. Deck Shaline, while bike thefts were historically the result of bikes being left unlocked, thieves are now cutting through locks to steal them.
More than half the cases over the last two months involved perpetrators cutting through locks.
The police department has managed to recover six bikes this summer. Tracking thieves can be challenging, but any recoveries can provide valuable leads in investigating larger bike theft operations.
“That will often provide you a lead, not every time, because you catch somebody on a stolen bicycle and they say, ‘Oh, I just bought it from someone down the street for 25 bucks,’” Shaline said.
Thieves often spray paint stolen bikes to disguise them and make identification more difficult. Frequently, it is done to expensive bikes, Shaline said.
DPD advises residents to register their bikes with the department and to take photos of their bikes.
When police have a bike's serial number on file, the chances of matching a recovered bike to its owner are greatly improved.
“We hear from bike shops occasionally when they get a little suspicious of a bike,” Shaline said. “We'll take any assistance we can get in order to reunite people with their cycles.”
Because of the recent surge in bike lock cuttings, U-locks are now recommended over chain and cable locks.
Additional tips from law enforcement include locking bikes in well-lit, heavily populated areas. High-traffic areas can be a deterrent for thieves attempting cut bike locks.
“We know how valuable bikes are to all folks, especially Durango folks,” Shaline said. “We take it seriously.”
If residents have had a bike stolen, they can report it to dispatch at 385-2900. Residents can also inquire about recoveries by calling DPD’s property and evidence technicians at 375-4748.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
