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Ferndale Police look to nab bicycle thieves
Both the Free Press and Daily Tribune are reporting on Ferndale Police efforts to catch bicycle thieves.
According to the Tribune:
Police have taken nearly 20 reports of stolen bicycles in the past six weeks. However, many such thefts aren’t reported and police believe the actual number of bike thefts in Ferndale is much higher.
“Basically they are stealing bikes to sell them for quick money,” Wilson said. “The suspects are a combination of adults who might have drug habits to support, and kids.”
One of their responses is to leave an unlocked bike under police surveillance. If someone takes the bicycle, the police can catch the thief. According to the Tribune it took 2 hours before the decoy was stolen by Browner, which doesn’t sound all that efficient.
Perhaps a better solution is finding where these stolen bikes are going and being re-sold to consumers. If there was less of market for stolen bikes, fewer might get taken.
Years ago the Royal Oak Police did just that and shutdown a bicycle shop on Eleven Mile Road that was selling stolen bikes.
Tags: bike theft, Ferndale