The high number of bicycle thefts in Adelaide CBD has put a damper on commuters, with 287 thefts reported in the past six months and many more going unreported.
Adelaide Bike chairman David Elliott said the thieves used pocket-sized power tools to break through the locks and then stored the bikes in a warehouse to “cool down” before selling them on the second-hand market. Ta.
“We're at a fairly mature stage of this pipeline from stolen goods to the used goods market, so we're aware of cases where bikes have been shipped interstate or to another town or to another end of a city. ” he says. Said.
He said this is to avoid the 5-10 kilometer radius filters that people may use when searching for stolen goods on places like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.
Bike Adelaide chairman David Elliott said his bike had been intercepted on several occasions. (Courtesy of David Elliott)
A police spokesperson said 287 bicycle thefts were reported in the Adelaide CBD between April 1 and September 26.
However, Elliott said police statistics do not reflect the true number of thefts, as he recognizes that most people only report the loss of high-value bikes and that low-value bike thefts go uninvestigated. said.
“People who dress more professionally will carry power tools and pocket saws and will probably pass through tougher locks,” he says.
“A colleague had three bikes stolen in a 12-month period, two of which were stolen within a week of each other.
“My bike was stolen while I was visiting my sick mother at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, so I took my spare bike and it was stolen a few days later.”
Bicycles of low value are stolen
Monty, a university student (whose full name has been withheld to protect his privacy), had two bicycles stolen over the course of seven months.
Monty is riding another second-hand bike after two were stolen from Adelaide's CBD in the space of seven months. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)
His first music was stolen from outside the Woomadelade Music Festival in March, where he was volunteering until dark.
“It wasn't particularly valuable. It was in the bike shed at Blackwood United Church and I bought it for about $200,” Monti said.
“Luckily, my family still had a bike and they gave me a ride home on a skateboard.”
Monty's second bike was stolen from outside the shop on Flinders Street where he was taking a job at university.
He said it was “absolutely worthless” and had originally been left on the street by a neighbor.
“Why would anyone go out of their way to steal a bicycle that isn't worth much?'' said Monty.
“This is a complete nuisance for students and we hear from many people around Adelaide that this happens to them frequently.”
Both bicycles were locked at the time of the theft.
Applies to all bikes
Senior Constable Sophie Hodge, from SAPOL, said thieves were targeting all types of bikes, with the ones that looked the easiest to steal being the most attractive.
“It's best to make your bike look less likely to be stolen,” she says.
“Thieves usually don't want to spend too much time stealing your bike. The longer they take, the greater the risk of someone finding you, so be careful.
“This can be achieved by using two strong locks: a D-lock that secures the frame and one of the wheels to a secure object, and a sturdy chain that secures the other wheel to the first lock. I will use it.”
Senior Constable Hodge advised anyone who returns to their bike after finding a flat tire not to abandon it. The thief may have lowered the tire to buy time to steal the bike.
The University of Adelaide provides bicycle cages. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)
Mr Elliott, also a former Adelaide City Councilor, wants to see a more proactive approach to preventing bike theft, including the introduction of private security services on university campuses and elsewhere.
A University of Adelaide spokesperson said the university's security staff were actively monitoring suspicious activity “including bike storage and surrounding access routes”.
“Bicycles occasionally disappear from the North Terrace campus, but the university has secure bike cages, comprehensive surveillance cameras and 24-hour security patrols to deter potential thieves. “There is,” she said.
“Security staff remain alert to potential criminals and take action if necessary. All thefts are recorded on our security incident system and subject to ongoing investigation and response.”
