rampant bike thieves

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

There are some serious bike thieves on or around Willow Avenue.

After parking my bike in front of the house for a year, nothing happened until last week, when someone stole my wheel. It was an old Trek, and time for an upgrade anyway, but still really annoying.

So then I got a newer bike from Craigslist. I bought a cable, which I've wrapped through my wheels in addition to the U Lock I was already using. At night I brought the bike inside EVERY night but Saturday. Saturday the downpour was so bad, and I was busy, so I flaked on bringing the bike inside.

Sunday I was ready to ride my bike to the Union Square flea market, only to discover that the seat was missing.

I understand now that I will ALWAYS have to park my bike inside at night. But I find it ironic that after living on Columbia St. in Cambridge for 4 years (an area where people shook their heads in dismay upon me telling them I lived "across from the projects"), the worst theft has happened right here on friendly Willow.

Comments

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Somerville has a much higher rate of bike (and car) theft than Cambridge, actually.

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

good to know. where did you read that? i'm curious.

[djdreilinger.livejournal.com]

I just wrote an article (http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/31/thieves_rack_up_bikes_locked_or_not/) on the increase in Somerville and Cambridge bike theft. To my surprise, the most recent Boston data showed that bike theft had not gone up.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

The car theft stats you can find various places, including at CityRating.com. In 2003, Somerville had 521 reports of car theft, versus Cambridge's 410 reports of car theft: when you capitate it, that puts Somerville's rate much, much higher, considering it has only three-quarters the population of Cambridge.

As to bike theft, I didn't have any stats until I read djdreilinger's piece! I just had that impression from talking with police in both communities.

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

interesting! thanks!