“Metro Transit Police launch free online bike registration to help reduce theft”

Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

From WMATA:

“Metro Transit Police (MTPD) today launched a free online registration program for riders who park their bikes at Metro facilities as part of the department’s ongoing effort to reduce bike theft.

Starting today, riders can visit wmata.com/registerbike to sign up. To submit a registration, riders will need their bike’s make, model, serial number, color and frame size.

To promote the new registration program, MTPD will host a special outreach event Wednesday morning at Vienna Station where riders who register their bike on the spot will receive a free U-Lock while supplies last.

“Registering your bike is the best way to help police recover it in the event that it is lost or stolen,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik. “I encourage anyone who parks their bike at a Metro facility to take advantage of this new free service.”

Transit Police encourage bicyclists to use U-Lock devices to better protect their property. U-Locks are sturdier than conventional wire or chain locks, thereby making them much harder for a thief to overcome.

MTPD will distribute the free U-locks at Vienna starting at 6:45 a.m., and officers will be on hand throughout the morning rush hour distributing bike safety tips and assisting riders with on-the-spot registration.

Bike security tips
• Register your bike with Metro Transit Police. Registration can help police identify and recovery your property in the event that it is stolen.
• Lock your bike to an authorized rack. Metro provides more than 1,700 bike racks on the system for your convenience. The racks are positioned in well-lit, high traffic areas for additional security. Locking your bike to a fence, sign or other unauthorized fixture is an easy way to lose it.
• Using two locks is even better than using one. Use one for the front wheel and frame, and the other for the rear wheel and frame.
• Keep a copy of your bike’s serial number in your wallet. Your serial number will help police identify your bike if it is recovered or if the thief attempts to resell it.
• Hide a business card or index card with your name and phone number inside the bike frame.
• Take your seat with you.

Metro Transit Police use a variety of tactics to combat bicycle theft, including:
• Use of dedicated bike theft police details;
• Use of decoy operations and undercover officers;
• Community outreach events; and
• Deploying resources based on crime trends as identified through the MetroStat system”