Bike theft has happened at Sequoia and Redwood City over the years. Bikes being a major mode of transportation for Sequoia students, it is inevitable that some of them have experienced bike theft. Losing that mode of transportation is frustrating and harmful to a student’s lifestyle. How should students and staff prevent bike theft from happening?
According to the San Mateo Police department, there is a significant increase in bike thefts across the city. This is a topic that Sequoia is familiar with, as students have had their bikes stolen at or near Sequoia in the past.
“I looked all around but it vanished, no trace of it anywhere. I had to leave so I have no idea how it got stolen, but I know it did get stolen,” senior Marcello Caruso Turiello said.
Even with cameras and a proper investigation, it is almost impossible to get the bike back. Bikes are likely to be stolen if they were put in an accessible spot without a lock, such as against walls, gates and trees. Even when the bike is believed to be in a secure place it could still be stolen.
“I did not lock up my bike but it was behind a gate so I imagined it was safe,” Turiello said.
There have been patterns in bike theft in the past with staff members noticing recurring variables when a bike gets stolen.
“When bikes do go missing, we often find that students admit they did not lock them up,” Administrative Vice Principal Sophia Olliver said.
Another pattern staff have noticed is that most of the time it’s not a Sequoia student that steals the bike, especially if it’s left in an accessible spot, unlocked or left overnight.
“Bikes have been taken by non-students when bikes are left overnight,” Olliver said.
If a student’s bike is stolen it is crucial that it is reported. If the bike is reported the school will take measures to get the bike back.
“We investigate, we use our cameras,” security guard Omar Bracamontes said.
In order for students to prevent their bike from getting stolen, school resources can be very helpful to not only find the stolen bike back but also to protect them.
“I would recommend locking it, or putting it in the bike cage, we close it everyday,” Bracamontes said.