Fairfax County Police have reported a 36% increase in bicycle thefts from September 1, 2012 through August 31, 2013 when compared to the same time frame last year.  Biker and attorney Doug Landau has had a racing bike stolen out of his garage after the Reston Triathlon.  The Fairfax County Police later found a car with many garage door clickers that had been stolen out of unlocked cars in driveways. The thieves came back later when no one was at home and stole the bicycles !

Citing open garages as a culprit in many of the recent crimes, police are urging residents to take precautions to protect their bikes.

Here are some recommendations from Crime Prevention Officers:

•  Close garage doors.
•  Invest in a hardened steel U-lock.
•  Don’t leave bicycles outside for days, or nights, on end. Thieves may be watching and may target “unused” bicycles.
•  Consider installing motion sensor lights or alarms on your property.
•  Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number; this will aid in recovery should your bike be stolen.
•  Consider registering your bicycle on the National Bike Registry.
•  Report the stolen item online.