U of M cops target bike thieves with 'bait bikes'
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Bike thieves on the University of Minnesota campus may want to think twice starting this fall as campus police start targeting them with "bait bikes."
Officers will plant GPS-tracked bicycles in high-theft spots around campus. If stolen, a bait bike will send a signal to police who can track its location electronically and make an arrest.
University police say since the beginning of the current school year, 100 bicycles have been reported stolen on campus for a total loss of more than $47,000. That's a significant jump from a year earlier, when 68 bicycles were stolen.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison implemented a Bait Bike program in 2008, and saw a 30 percent decrease in bike thefts from the year earlier.
---
Information from: The Minnesota Daily, http://www.mndaily.com/
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
