The Division of Public Safety encourages members of the campus community to follow these steps to avoid having their bicycle stolen (or, if it is stolen, to promote its safe return to its owner).
Secure your bicycle using a U-Lock. Cable locks can be cut easier than you think. A good-quality U-Lock is often unbreakable or requires a lot of time and effort to break. (Undergraduate students get a free U-Lock when they register their bikes with Case Western Reserve police.)
Secure your frame and wheels. U-Locks can also be used to secure both your bicycle frame and wheels. If you cannot secure your wheels using a U-Lock, consider using a secondary cable.
Always secure your bike to a bike rack. Other objects may be easier to manipulate to free your bicycle.
Register your bicycle with Case Western Reserve police. By registering your bicycle, it makes stolen bicycles harder to sell and easier to recover. Members of the Case Western Reserve community should register their bikes—for free—with CWRU police. Individuals also can register with their local police department.
Keep a photograph and serial number for your bicycle. This includes the registration number, if registered with your local police. This information will come in handy when reporting a stolen bicycle.
If your bicycle is stolen on campus or you notice anything suspicious, please contact the Case Western Reserve police at 216.368.3333.
Questions? Email publicsafety@case.edu.