Bike Thefts and How to Prevent Them

**Kusha Navadar** (0:10)
It's The Brian Lehrer Show. I'm Koucha Navadar. I'm filling in for Brian today here on WNYC. We're going to end the show on a topic that is very close to my heart, bike theft. I've been a victim of it, several producers on our team have been a victim of it, and more New Yorkers than ever have been victims of it. According to New York Police Department data from the last five years, bike thefts around the city have increased by nearly 120% in just the last six months. On top of that, the numbers tend to go up in the summer. Over the past five years, the month of August alone accounted for more than 10% of annual bike thefts. We'll be taking your calls and answering your texts with your experiences with bike theft. So give us a call, send us a text. The number is 212-433-9692.
That's 212-433-WNYC.
While we wait for those calls to come in, I'll tell you a little bit about my bike woes. I had my bicycle for almost 15 years when it got stolen from my building's bike room last year. We'd been through a lot together. I saved up a bonus from an old teaching job just to get the bike. It was red and white, light enough to pick up with one hand. We competed triathlons. We rode all around the country. We fell more times than I'd like to admit. I miss it every day. So if the person who stole my bike is listening, it is not too late to just bring it back. Or at least I hope you're enjoying it as much as I did. And I'm sorry about all the scratches.
To talk more about bike theft, I'm joined by Brittany Kriegstein. She's WNYC and Gothamist's breaking news reporter with a focus on crime and gun violence. And her recent story for Gothamist took a look at these crime stats and gave some tips for how to prevent your bike from being next. Brittany, you're right in the studio with me. I'm so excited to have you here. Welcome to the show.

**Brittany Kriegstein** (1:53)
Thank you so much.

**Kusha Navadar** (1:54)
And listeners, we want to hear from you. Have you been a victim of bike theft? Tell us your story 212-433-WNYC.
You can text us at 212-433-9692.
And maybe your story has a happy ending or maybe you have some hopeful tips. Maybe you've stolen a bike yourself. I don't know about the legality of sharing that on the air, but I'd certainly be curious to hear about it. 212-433-9692. Okay, so let's start with the numbers, Brittany. 120% increase in bike thefts in the past six months. What's behind the jump?

**Brittany Kriegstein** (2:29)
Yeah, that's right. Well, it's hard to say. Experts I've spoken to don't really have an answer about what's behind the jump. But it's not all bad news, I should say. The total number of bike thefts is still going down compared to last year. It's just that in the last six months, it has been increasing steadily. Of course, as you mentioned, the summer is the time when bike thefts always increase year to year.
You can imagine why. People are out cycling, they're out socializing, they might leave their bike against a post, and when they come back from wherever they are, it's gone. Now, you say that your bike was stolen inside your building.
Interesting fact for you, that's where only 17% of this year's bike thefts have taken place. Normally, about two-thirds of bike thefts take place on city streets, the data shows, so you were an unlucky minority in that case.

**Kusha Navadar** (3:21)
I was indeed. We were all unlucky when we got our bikes stolen, and I think we have a story. Let's go to Alan in New York. Hey, Alan, welcome to the show.

**Alan** (3:31)
Coosh, I feel your pain. I feel your pain on the stolen bike.

**Leo** (3:35)
Why do you feel my pain, Alan?

**Alan** (3:36)
I want to tell you, I had my bike stolen this winter. Let me tell you about this thing. I built this bike from junk parts when I volunteered at a non-profit bike shop. So it was like a real piece of junk.
It was winter time, so I had cut this splash guard fender out of a rigatoni pasta box and taped it to the frame. It was not a pretty looking bike, but it was sentimental to me and I had just had it tuned up by a professional for the first time in ever, and it was running real smooth. I parked it right outside the building, right outside my work building, and it was a snowy winter night. I got out there late at nine or ten and it was gone. I was devastated. I just stood there, just dumbfounded.