GVPD reports spike in on-campus bike theft

GVL / Eric Coulter
Bike thefts on campus have been on the rise

Eric Coulter

GVL / Eric Coulter Bike thefts on campus have been on the rise

Anya Zentmeyer

Since April 1, the Grand Valley Police Department has seen 21 reports of stolen bicycles on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus to-date, with 13 of the 21 recovered since the initial report.

Captain Brandon DeHaan, assistant director of the Department of Public Safety at GVSU, said that in cases where a stolen bike was located with a student, GVPD is forwarding those reports to the Ottawa County Prosecutor as well as sending judicial referrals to the Dean of Students Office.

“It is important that students understand to lock their bikes and to register them with our department,” DeHaan said.
Bike registration is available at no cost through the police department’s website.

Equally as important, DeHaan said, is locking up bikes when left unattended. In some cases, students who reported bike theft indicated they did lock up their bikes, but others left their bikes unlocked and unattended.

“So we’re asking our students to secure what bikes they have and, again, to register those bikes with DPS,” DeHaan said.

To register a bike online, visit www.gvsu.edu/gvpd and click on “Bike Register” under the Quick Links.

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