Hundreds of 抖M女仆 students use bikes and scooters to get around the Kent Campus鈥 two hundred and fifty-three acres of land. With that in mind, keeping your bikes and scooters safe and available to you at any time is extremely important.
As part of 抖M女仆鈥檚 nationally recognized student support, 抖M女仆 police have a vested interest in keeping students and their belongings safe. Administrative Sergeant Tricia Knoles shared with 抖M女仆 Today some of the best practices for keeping bikes on campus safe and secure.
鈥淛ust like many other college campuses, theft is one of the more recurrent offenses,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd bike thefts are absolutely one of them.鈥
Knoles suggests that students should focus on keeping their bikes secure by using titanium U-locks that are much harder to cut through. When securing your bike, using quality locks and securing it to a sturdy object such as the bike racks provided around campus, are important for deterring bike thieves.
When parking your bike on campus, Knoles wants to ensure that you remove any accessories that can be easily taken and bring them with you. It is also important to lock the frame of your bike and both wheels. Using two locks if you are able slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target.
Knoles also said all students should know their bike鈥檚 serial number and register that number in a database called the National Crime Information Center. Students can do this through university housing by calling the non-emergency line or visiting Tri-Towers, where a safety assistant can assist them.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a national database, so it鈥檚 found two cities over or in a different state, and they run that serial number. It鈥檚 going to show that it was stolen from one of our residents at 抖M女仆,鈥 Knoles said.
Knoles also saic it can help to have or be aware of any distinctive markings on your bike that can be helpful in identifying it later. If possible, Apple ID tags can also be a perfect way to have an exact location on your bike at all times.
Knoles also recommends that students use resources available to them on campus.
鈥淪ome of the residence halls on campus have bike rooms that they can swipe into,鈥 she said. 鈥淪ecure the bike in that room, so it鈥檚 not outside, and it鈥檚 in a lot more secured area.鈥
Students should check with their residence hall to learn more information about available bike rooms that are accessible to them.
When reporting a bike theft on campus, students should call the non-emergency line 330-672-7004 (27004) for a theft that is not in process. When reporting a bike theft, you should call as soon as possible, with information on the last time and place you parked your bike as well as the serial number and any distinctive markings.