A little-known DeKalb Police Department program allows bike riders to protect their property by using more than a lock.

The DeKalb Police Department offers free registration of bicycles and gives licenses to stick on the frame. If the bicycle is stolen and recovered, the police department can return the bike to the owner, if it’s registered.

“We recover a ton of bikes we’re not able to link back to the owner,” DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes.

The owner of a bike only needs to fill out an index card with basic information, such as brand name, model number, serial number and size. Kayes said if the owner knows this information, he or she won’t need to bring the bike with them to register.

The licenses are 1-inch-by-2-inch stickers that are attached to the frame of the bike under the seat. Kayes said they can be taken off, but only with much effort on the part of a thief – effort that most likely will not be expended.

Kayes said police have been offering the service for years.

In 2002, 187 bikes were registered and about 190 were stolen, according to DeKalb Police Department records.

Kayes said in 2002 there were 154 bikes auctioned off because the owners could not be found; there were 193 such cases in 2003.

“If they’re registered with us, invariably, most are returned,” Kayes said. “You’d be amazed at how many people have gotten stuff stolen who haven’t written down serial numbers.”

Freshman finance major Chris Lawrence said he rides his bike to classes that are more than 15 minutes away. He wasn’t aware of the registration service offered by the police department, but said he would consider registering his bike now that he knows the service is available.

Some students may not take advantage of this service.

Alma Martinez, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, rides her bike to most of her classes. She said although she was not aware of the service, she still probably would not register her bike.