Pete Moye’
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Reports of on campus bicycle thefts have increased since the start of the fall semester and according to Cerritos College Chief of Police, Richard Bukowiecki, students may not be able to do anything other than invest in better locks.

“There has been a rise in bicycle thefts on campus because unfortunately, it is a really easy item to steal,” Bukowiecki said, “the process of stealing a bicycle is almost like a student retrieving one.”

He explains that the process of a student retrieving his bicycle to a person stealing one, is so similar that someone may be witness to a theft three-feet away, without any knowledge of the event.

Bukowiecki added that some students locks may be cut by nail clippers and suggest that with high price bicycles, more expensive locks will be needed.

Teaching major Alex Razo commutes by bicycle to Cerritos College and says a friend’s bike was stolen, but isn’t worried of his own.

“I bought my bike for $20 dollars and built the rest of it, so it wouldn’t really be a set back if it were stolen,” Razo said.

Although, Razo makes sure not to make it easy for campus thieves.

“I lock my bike wherever I go and never really leave it unattended,” he said. “Im usually here during the day where there is a lot of people, so i never see anything suspicous.”

English major Angel Mitchell, has seen theft off campus and is aware of crime on campus too.

“Most people lock both of their tires up because if [thieves] can’t steal the bike, then they will take a tire. I’ve seen it at the Metro station,” Mitchell said.

He adds that he stays away from purchasing wire bicycle locks and claims that cutting his own lock would be like trying to cut the base of the actual bicycle.

Locks like Mitchell’s are on average $5 to $10 more then the wire locks and come with a pair of keys.

While campus police are aware of the crimes that have taken place this semester, none of the thieves have been caught according to Bukowiecki.

Also, not all thefts are officially reported because a bicycle factory number is needed along with the make and model.