From Jan. 1, 2002, to Aug. 22, 23 bicycles were reported stolen on NIU’s campus.

“My bike is my main form of transportation around campus,” said freshman undecided major Sonsackda Khempaseuth. “I would hope that it would be safe when I leave it.”

Bike safety is a concern among students.

“I have always been very concerned with bike safety on campus, especially after last year when mine was stolen from a bike rack in front of Grant South,” said junior biology major Rebecca Powers. “I have a chain lock that I string through the front and back tires to try and keep it safe.”

Sometimes special measures must be taken in addition to the conventional locking process.

“I would suggest that students should make sure to check the bike rack to make sure it’s not damaged so that it can’t be easily broken through,” Powers said.

Registering bicycles at the police station also may aid in their recovery.

“That way we can check for the serial number on the bottom of the bike frame in order to find it for the owner,” Lt. Matthew Kiederlen of University Police said.

Kiederlen said another good way to prevent bicycle theft is to use secure locks.

“The best locks are usually Monster or Kryptonite locks,” Kiederlen said.

Most thefts are reported stolen during the evening around the residence halls where most bicycles are kept.