By Rod Sayre

Protect yourself

Police report as many as one bike theft a day at Los Altos High School

Bike theft is a nationwide problem, and Los Altos has its fair share of it.

In recent years, police have reported as many as one bike a day stolen from Los Altos High School during the first weeks of school. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has reported recovering as many as 150 bicycles from throughout the county during a two-month period.

Most of the bicycles stolen were either unlocked or had been secured with a poor-quality lock at the time of theft. It takes only a few seconds for a thief to get away with a bike when it is left unlocked.

Here are a few suggestions that may help prevent bike theft.

Always secure the bike to a bike rack. If it is not secured to a solid object, all a thief has to do is pick it up and carry it away.

Carefully choose where you park your bike. Select a well-lighted public place. Thieves prefer dark, deserted areas. Don’t cooperate.

When purchasing locking equipment, consider how much you spent for your bike. A good rule of thumb is to spend 10 percent of the cost of your bike on security equipment.

Report any suspicious activity, such as persons loitering around bike racks.

Use a cable or chain at least 3/8-inch in diameter. Use a key-lock with a 3/8-inch hardened shackle with heel and toe locking.

Pull up all slack in the cable or chain and make sure the lock is as high off the ground as possible. Secure quick-release wheels to the bike frame.

Los Altos Crime Prevention Officer Rod Sayre periodically provides this column to educate and help protect residents against local scams. If you believe that you have been a victim of a scam, call the Los Altos Police Department at 948-8223.