Bikes get stolen a lot in Bloomington. Here's how to prevent it.

Bloomington and Indiana University are famously bike-friendly, but being a bike town also means bicycles get stolen – a lot.

Just last month, two high-end bicycles valued at $15,000 each were stolen off a car rack at the Graduate Hotel on Kirkwood Avenue.

The beginning of the fall semester at IU is often accompanied by an increase in bike thefts. Last year, more than 40 bicycles were reported stolen at IU and around Bloomington in August and September.

Indiana University and Bloomington police recommend several protective measures to keep bikes safe, including using U-locks, registering your bike and keeping it in a secure indoor location.

Here’s a few pointers on how to best protect your bike in Bloomington.

Always lock your bike – with a U-lock

IUPD recommends securely locking your bicycle any time you’re away from it and recommends using at least one U-lock. U-locks, which are made of hardened steel, are harder to cut or break than standard locks, which are usually made of cables.

IUPD recommends securing the frame and both tires with a lock, either by manually removing one tire and attaching it to the lock, or adding a cable lock to secure the back wheel.

Register your bike

In the event your bike gets stolen, being able to identify it is crucial to getting it back. Registering your bike by providing the make, model, color and serial number can help to ensure your bike can be identified if it gets stolen or lost.

The city recommends registering your bike with Bike Index , a free, national registry that can be used by law enforcement and the local community to identify lost bikes.

IU community members who park a bike on campus are also required to register their bikes for $10 , noting the make, model and serial number so it can be identified if lost.

Keep your bike inside

Keeping your bike stored and locked inside can help ensure it’s not stolen or scrapped for parts. Storing a bike in a stairway, secure garage or in your apartment (you can use a wall rack or stand to minimize clutter) can reduce the risk of it getting stolen and bring peace of mind.

IU community members also have access to the Ballantine Bike Hub , an indoor bike storage unit accessible 24 hours a day, only via a valid CrimsonCard .

Report a stolen bike immediately

Whether with local police or campus police, it’s essential to report lost and stolen bikes as soon as possible.

“The sooner police are aware of the theft, the greater the chances of recovering the bike,” IU’s website says .

Lost or stolen bikes can be reported to IUPD at 812-855-4111 or to BPD at 812-339-4477. BPD incident reports can also be filed online at bloomington.in.gov/incidents .

Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com . Follow him on Twitter/X at @brianwritesnews .

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bikes get stolen a lot in Bloomington. Here's how to prevent it.