Bike Theft Victims Turn to Web Posses

Bike owners are turning to newer technology to help nail crooks stealing their rides by posting online pleas to lookout posses, reports the Wall Street Journal. Victims use Twitter, Facebook and other sites geared toward bikers to hook into a nation of eyes watching streets and classified ads for stolen bikes. "Harder times mean more thefts," warns the founder of StolenBicycleRegistry.com, where people can list their stolen bikes free.

Some areas are reporting increases in bike thefts as high as 72% this year. "We're trying to empower the eyes of the community to get bikes back," says the founder of BikePortland.org. Bike experts urge owners to use a good lock, and keep a record of a bike's serial number and any photo that can be used to claim a stolen bicycle once it's located.
(More bicycles stories.)