Bicycle theft is one of the most common crimes on campus. Thirty-six bicycle thefts were reported to the UNC Police Department in 2022, and so far in 2023 there have been 49 reports, 38 of which have occurred since the start of the fall semester. 

According to UNC Chief of Police Aaron Carmichael, there are several things people can do to help deter bicycle thefts, starting with securing their bike with a quality lock.

"Nearly 200 bikes have been stolen over the past five years, and only two of those were stolen with a properly secured U-lock," said Carmichael. "U-locks have been far superior in deterring bike theft as cable locks take only seconds to cut with bolt cutters. And, students can get one for free when they pay to register their bike with Parking Services."

For individuals using a U-lock, Carmichael said it's important to make sure the the lock goes through the bike's frame and front tire, as well as the rack or around any other secured stationary object. To see a demonstration video about how to properly lock up your bicycle, check out this Facebook video from UNC PD Officer Bobby Gallegos. 

UNC PD's reports indicate that most thefts occur during August and September months and that the most common locations for bike thefts on Central Campus are the bike racks by 10th Ave. and 20th St. and around Frasier Hall and Skinner Music Library. On West Campus, the most common locations for bike thefts are by North and South Hall.

Carmichael said UNC PD is taking the thefts seriously and have been stepping up their own prevention efforts across campus, including increased educational signage, patrolling and camera coverage around the racks most targeted, as well as working with Facilities to explore moving some of the targeted racks to more interior locations on campus.