McMaster University has a serial bike thief. Here's how to keep yours safe

A man carrying bolt cutters in a plastic bag walks up to a $500 black cross-country bike, snaps the lock and rides off the McMaster University campus with the bicycle.

If it sounds as if that guy knew what he was doing, it's because he seemingly did it many times before. 

Security documents from the school that were obtained by CBC Hamilton through a freedom-of-information request reveal the school has been the target of a serial bike thief for years.

"The suspect matched the physical description of a male known to McMaster University Security Services who has been linked to a large number of bicycle thefts on campus over the prior 3+ years," reads the security report about the incident on Sept. 28, 2022, linking him to two other thefts earlier in the year.

The serial bike thief's name and appearance are unknown because his physical description and identity were redacted in the security documents, but the university issued him an order restricting his access to campus after a prior arrest there.

"It's surprising ... he just keeps doing the same thing," said Katelyn Empringham, a kinesiology student at McMaster.

When asked, the university and Hamilton Police Service (HPS) also didn't provide details about the individual.

McMaster, and the area around it, is the city's top hot spot for bike thefts, according to Const. Indy Bharaj.

The university declined an interview for the story and didn't say if there's more than one thief repeatedly targeting the school, but security documents show where people stole bikes on campus in September 2022.

Documents also show over $4,000 worth of bikes were snatched from campus that month.

Where were bikes stolen on campus?

Wade Hemsworth, a McMaster spokesperson, said the school hasn't identified any hotspots on campus and said riders should be cautious everywhere.

The thefts also happened at all times of the day, according to the documents. Thefts from September 2022 show the David Braley Athletic Centre (DBAC) was the most common target for thieves. 

Of the dozen reports of stolen bikes documented by security that month, four happened at DBAC.

Empringham said she didn't expect the number of bikes stolen at DBAC to be high given all the foot traffic in the area.

Use the map below to see where bikes were stolen at McMaster in September 2022:

Two bikes were also stolen from the Information Technology Building in a spot that didn't have a security camera.

It prompted a special constable to suggest "more cameras be installed in the area in order to have camera coverage of the bicycle rack," according to the documents.

A ticket was put in to determine how much a camera in the area would cost. Hemsworth didn't say if the camera was installed, but said where possible, areas with bike racks are covered by security cameras.

How does McMaster compare to the city?

Hemsworth said there have been 293 bike thefts between 2017 and 2022, with 69 of those last year.

It's the second highest number recorded in that time span.

It also accounts for roughly 40 per cent of the 174 thefts reported on campus last year.

Hemsworth said security works with Hamilton police to share information about all thefts.

Bharaj said it makes sense that the McMaster area is a hotspot for bike thefts because lots of students use bikes.

"It could be simply they're reported there more often as well because these bicycles are sometimes the only method of travel for these students," he said.

Roughly 600 bikes are stolen across the city each year. He notes the numbers may be underreported.

Of those, just four per cent — roughly 24 bikes — are recovered.

Of the 24 recovered, four to five make it back to their owner.

Police said that's because officers "often have a hard time matching the bicycle to its owner."

In one case at McMaster, a student whose bike was stolen managed to retrieve it — but did so on their own terms.

A student and his friend saw a man with the stolen bike and ended up confronting the person riding it — the person was shirtless and "covered in scars," according to the security report.

What can you do to protect your bike?

Empringham said the numbers give her pause about bringing her bike to campus.

Obada Al-Sayed, a mechanical engineering student entering his fourth year at McMaster, said he rides his bike all season and has never worried about losing his bike to a thief.

"If someone wants to steal a bike, hopefully they don't steal mine," he said.

"If I had my bike stolen, I'd head on down to a bike shop and get a new one ... I already know whoever has taken it has probably locked it up in their own home somewhere." 

Bharaj recommends people register their bikes through Hamilton police's online bike registry so if your bike is recovered police can match it to you and return it.

He also recommends keeping your bike out of plain sight like in a shed, garage or backyard.

"The theft of bicycles are sometimes acts of opportunity and the availability is what makes them such easy targets," Bharaj said.

That said, he realizes that's easier said than done on campus.

Hemsworth noted a caged, secure bicycle compound is available near the Commons for students.

McMaster says on its website that there are 18 CycleSafe bike lockers people can rent for $40 per semester or $100 for the year.

It also offers tips to prevent bike theft including:

• Record your serial number.
• Save your receipt.
• Engrave your driver's license number on your bike frame (free engraving is available through MACycle).
• Lock bike to bike racks only.
• Use two bike locks.
• Watch for suspicious activity around bike racks.
• Report suspicious activity immediately to security.