RICHMOND, Va. -- Summertime means more people out riding their bicycles. Unfortunately, thieves are taking advantage of those who don't lock up their bikes.
According to the he Richmond Police Department, 195 bicycles reported stolen this year. It's in The Fan district is where most of those bikes were taken. This morning, Richmond officers were in that neighborhood, demonstrating how quickly someone can steal a bike.
They provided tips on how to keep your bike from becoming a target. The first tip is to not lock your bike to something flimsy like a wooden porch railing.
"That's why we have these bike racks going up all over the city," said Lt. Erlan Marshall with Richmond police. "Hopefully that will be a good deterrent to crime as well. But the most important part to remember is a proper locking system. As you can see, that bike was taken in seconds."
Lt. Marshall said it is also a good idea to register your bike. CBS 6 found online sites like bikeregistry.com that let you store information on your bike, including the serial number and a picture.
