Local News

Bicycle thefts around the Grants Pass area continue to be excessive and many of them go unreported.

But the Grants Pass Police Department says the community can do its part to help reduce bike thefts and put thieves behind bars.

According to GPPD, it's all too common for their officers to come across piles of bicycles and parts that they know are likely stolen, but none of the serial numbers on the bike frames had been reported stolen. The majority of stolen bicycle reports have the serial number listed as "unknown."

If police don't have a serial number associated with a theft, getting your bicycle back to you is nearly impossible.

Please take steps to secure your bicycles and not leave them out and available for local criminals. Please keep records of the serial numbers on your bicycles so law enforcement can identify them as yours and return them.

Officials said you can use your smartphone to record the serial numbers of all your valuables including bicycles, electronics, firearms, lawnmowers and anything else thieves might try to take away from you.

A serial number attached to a theft report could mean the difference between the return of your stolen property or never seeing it again.