Triple Lock Your Bicycles: Chatham Borough Police

CHATHAM, NJ - The Chatham Borough Police Department have noticed an increase in bicycle thefts from the train station and are reminding citizens to continue to take additional steps to secure their property.

Police said to secure bikes to the rack and to report an suspicious activity. They also have additional tips on how to keep your bike from getting stolen:

• Be wary of cable locks, which are easily chopped with wire cutters. They might be enough to deter passing theft and opportunists, but they are ineffective against seasoned thieves.
• Two or three locks (even cables) are better than one. The more difficult you can make it look to steal your bike, the less a thief will want to hassle with it.
• Never lock your bike to a tree. Not only can it damage the tree, but any tree that’s small enough to fit a U-lock is small enough for thieves to cut through quickly.
• Park your bike with other bikes when you lock it up. If you have a good-quality lock and other cyclists have poorer security, their bikes will be targeted first.
• Don’t forget to lock your wheels and your saddle. Quick releases and hex bolts make it easy
• for thieves to snatch these components.
• Lock up your bikes even inside your garage, and be sure they are locked to some fixed point like a pipe or rafter.
• Keep a file on all of your bikes that includes receipts, serial numbers, and photos. Register each bike in a nationwide database like the National Bike Registry so it can be returned to you if it’s ever stolen and recovered.
• Consider investing in a GPS tracking device.
• Report a theft immediately

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