Marin County Bicycle Thefts Spike; Sheriff's Office Offers Registry Program
NOVATO (KPIX 5) -- Marin County is the home of mountain biking and a mecca for cyclists, but for that reason it's also a gold mine for crooks looking to steal bikes.
That's especially the case right now, according to Marin County Sheriff's Office spokesman, Lt. Doug Pittman. "It's always been a thing, but for some reason we've seen a dramatic spike over last couple months," said Pittman.
Sheriff's investigators are working to figure out why and who is behind it. Just this week, Novato Police arrested a man on drug charges who had three bicycles and 33 frames in his home.
As someone on the receiving end of theft, Katie Hendrix hopes police will be able to catch the person who stole hers. "It was pretty terrible," said Hendrix, "And it actually happened to be Valentine's Day so it made for a sour start to the day."
Hendrix hasn't been able to recover the bike - and the sheriff's office says only five percent of stolen bikes ever make it home. That's why they are urging people to always lock their bikes and register them in the county database so a thief doesn't ride off with your bike - and your plans.
In Marin County, you can register your bike by visiting the Marin County Sheriff's website and filling out an online form.