Bike Theft: How It Works, and What Police Are Doing in San Francisco

You don’t have to be a cyclist in the Bay Area to appreciate that bike theft is rampant. Walking around, you might notice broken U-locks next to bike racks where someone’s ride vanished. Or skeletal bike frames that are still locked up, but the wheels, seat, and anything else that wasn’t welded in place have all been picked clean.

An analysis estimated that in 2012 there were more than 4,000 actual, attempted or unreported bike thefts in San Francisco, with some $4.6 million worth of bikes taken.

In this episode of Bay Curious (listen using the play button above), we unpack two questions — what the San Francisco Police Department is doing about bike theft, and what happens after bikes or bicycle parts are stolen. Click here to learn more about bike theft in San Francisco.

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