- 01/10/2012
Bicycle thief on and around campus
In the past two weeks, five bicycles were stolen from TU/e campus and the Bunker, says Hay Becks of TU/e’s security staff. He suspects the bikes have been stolen by a single perpetrator, since the method is the same every time: a grinder is used to cut through the padlocks.
Between September 13 and 28, five people reported a stolen bicycle with TU/e security. At Potentiaal, a mountain bike disappeared, a black ‘granny bike’ was stolen at the west entrance of the Hoofdgebouw, and other bikes were stolen outside the Auditorium, Helix and the Bunker.
In three cases, the cut padlock was found in the exact spot the bike used to be. “A small, battery-operated grinder fits your pocket and cuts these locks in two seconds. Today’s padlock’s are worthless”, says Becks. The bikes that were parked on campus disappeared during the day, while the one at the Bunker was stolen at night.
Security is currently checking their surveillance camera footage. “Still, it’s hard to see if someone unlocks their own bike or someone else’s”, according to Becks. “The issue has our attention.” Should your bike be stolen, security strongly advises to file a report with the police as well.
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