Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bike Thieves Love Williamsburg Four Times More Than In 2011
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 30, 2012
Modified Jul 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 30, 2012
Modified Jul 30, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Brooklyn thieves have gotten a taste for Brooks saddles and mass-market bikes named after ancient Greek philosophers: bicycle thefts have quadrupled in Williamsburg's 94th Precinct since last year. "It's happening all over," Deputy Inspector Terence Hurson tells DNAinfo. "It's been increasing since the spring." 96 were reported stolen in the first six months of 2012, up from 24 last year, and people rarely see their steed again because we're all too busy to register our bikes with the NYPD. Hurson, who is the commanding officer in the 94th, says, "Someone asks me, 'What are the chances of getting my bike back?' and I say 'Not very good, unless you've had it etched.' "
As CB 1 transportation committee member Ryan Kuonen points out, it's likely that thefts have remained steady, but more people are reporting them: "To say there were only 24 thefts [last year] is a laugh. To say there are 100, yeah, that makes sense."
You can register your bike at your local precinct, free of charge, by calling its crime prevention officer and making an appointment. A good lock helps too: avoid older ones with a circular key that can be picked with a Bic pen. Keep your bike in your apartment when you're not using it (carrying a bike up stairs also keeps you lean and mean) and maybe don't spend $1,000 on a bike that you use to get yourself home from the bar three times a week. And if you do lock it outside, here are some good tips to keep it secure.
Tagged
bike lanes
bike thefts
stolen bikes
williamsburg
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC looks to grow involvement in Open Streets as applications open for 2027
The Mamdani administration bolstered funding this year and is asking applicants to suggest infrastructure upgrades.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 12:52 p.m. ET
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use
A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
By
James Ramsay
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .