BY AMY BALTODANO
Hays Post

A recent spate of bicycle thefts has the Hays Police Department suggesting to the public to make sure you get your bicycle registered.

According to Lt. Brandon Wright, the HPD receives a number of bicycles on a consistent basis, and they are kept in storage. These include the bikes that have been unclaimed or abandoned.

“Bicycle thefts tend to be ‘A to B,’ pick up a bicycle, ride it for a little while somewhere, drop it and leave it,” Wright said. “Then it gets called in or seen just sitting there for a few days, gets picked up. People rarely report those thefts of those bicycles.”

For a mere 50 cents, a bicycle can be registered, however. Wright said, by doing that, there’s a much better chance your bike will be returned.

He believes there are a few misconceptions amongst the public regarding the registration process.

“They think the PD will ticket you for not having your bicycle registered, and that has never happened,” he said. “We never give people a hard time over it. If you have that sticker on there, we give you the bike back to you.”

He said it’s always nice to find a bike that is already registered and can be quickly returned.

To have a bicycle registered, contact the HPD at (785) 625-1030 for details.