All throughout the Bay Area, and across the nation, bike theft has been on the rise. In 2015, there were over 90 bikes stolen in Campbell resulting in the loss of more than $75,000. To make an impact on the reduction of bike thefts, the Campbell Police Department created a “Bait Bike” program to address these thefts.
The “Bait Bike” is placed in random locations at various times throughout the City of Campbell. “Bait Bike” deployment locations are a combination of where large numbers of bicycle thefts have occurred as well as areas which have experienced other thefts and burglaries. When the bicycle is moved, officers are alerted to the activation and respond to locate the bike and the individual who is in possession of it. The bicycle is valued at more than $1,000, making it a felony charge if convicted.
“The Campbell Police Department seeks innovative approaches to crime reduction. We don’t want to just arrest people for thefts, we want to prevent them from occurring” said Captain Gary Berg. In just the last week, two suspects have been arrested for stealing the “Bait Bike.” Faustino Martinez, 42 years old of San Jose, was arrested on Saturday, May 21st and Rey Ziranda, 24 years old of San Jose, was arrested on Tuesday, May 24th. Both suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for grand theft.
If your bike happens to get stolen, it is very important to file a report so that the Campbell Police Department can identify patterns or trends in thefts and deploy the “Bait Bike” in the most effective way possible. The result is often arrests, whether it is in relation to the original bike theft or for other occurrences.
Bicycles and bicycle parts are in high demand, and thieves are well-equipped and organized. Here are some tips to reduce the chance of your bicycle being stolen:
• Always lock your bicycle (through the frame and both wheels) to a solid metal object. If a bike rack isn’t available, use a permanently mounted metal pole or other immovable object.
• Use a quality lock - avoid using lightweight cables or chains, or low quality U-locks.
• Lock all free parts of bike or take them with you.
• Avoid leaving your bicycle locked outside overnight.
• Before leaving your bicycle, give the lock a tug to ensure it is secured.
