{"id":215853,"date":"2026-04-02T10:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/215853\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T10:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T10:13:10","slug":"heres-how-usf-police-can-help-recover-your-stolen-bike-scooter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/215853\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s how USF Police can help recover your stolen bike, scooter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>USF\u2019s University Police has a bike and scooter registration program, which helps identify, locate and recover lost or stolen vehicles. ORACLE PHOTO\/DYLAN SABOL<\/p>\n

Eduardo Manke registered his bicycle with USF\u2019s University Police in June after learning about the program through a friend whose bicycle had been stolen and later recovered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was with him when someone from [UP] went up to him, saying that they found a bike, and they mentioned the program to register,\u201d said Manke, a junior mechanical engineering major.<\/p>\n

Manke said he then went to UP\u2019s office in person to register for the program, which took him less than 10 minutes and cost him nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is the only thing you need to do for the registration,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter that, they just put a bike into their system, and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Registration came at a great time for Manke,\u00a0as his bicycle was stolen just six months later and recovered by UP before he even realized it was missing.<\/p>\n

Manke said he had locked his bicycle on a rack inside the Collins Boulevard Parking Garage a few days after fall classes ended and planned to leave it there over winter break.<\/p>\n

But just a few days after parking his bike, Manke received an email from UP asking him to identify a bicycle that had been stolen and was linked to his name.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe service was really fast, considering that there are people who never see their bike again,\u201d he said. \u201cSince I found out that it was stolen the same time I found out that it was recovered, I felt really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

USF Police Officer Daymar Reeder said UP\u2019s bicycle and scooter registration program<\/a> is designed to assist officers in identifying and returning lost or stolen property on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe program allows students and employees to register identifying information, such as serial numbers and descriptions, which helps USFPD quickly verify ownership and improve recovery rates when property is located,\u201d Reeder said.<\/p>\n

Related: USF police urge students to follow traffic laws after campus incidents<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reeder said primary registration for the program must be done in person at UP\u2019s office on Genshaft Drive to verify identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After students, faculty or staff provide information about their bicycle or scooter \u2014 such as its make, model, serial number and their contact information \u2014 UP puts a sticker on it to identify it as registered property.<\/p>\n

This information is then stored in a database used to identify stolen property and to contact owners if the property is recovered.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[UP] primarily aims to register bikes and scooters, but will register any privately owned item of value with a serial number or Owner Applied Number,\u201d Reeder said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An Owner Applied Number System is an identification program to help local law enforcement locate lost or stolen property, according to Hardee County<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This spring, approximately 16 bicycles and scooters were registered through the program, and approximately five were successfully recovered after going missing, Reeder said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2024, 170 electric bicycles and scooters were stolen at USF compared to 94 in 2023 and nine in 2022, according to UP\u2019s latest Annual Security and Fire Safety Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Outside of registering with the program, Reeder said UP encourages all bicycle and scooter users to take \u201csimple preventative steps,\u201d such as locking them to fixed objects and reporting suspicious activity on campus.<\/p>\n

Reeder added that bicycles and scooters should be secured with U-shaped locks, which are made of hardened steel, rather than cable or chain locks that can be \u201ceasily defeated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese steps significantly improve the likelihood of recovery and help maintain a safe<\/p>\n

campus environment for everyone,\u201d Reeder said. \u201cToo often, bicycles and scooters are observed unsecured or improperly secured on campus, making them easy targets for theft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants could also be considered for replacements \u2014 obtained through donations, partnerships and approved surplus sources \u2014 if UP is unable to locate or recover the property, Reeder said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIf recovery is not possible, eligible participants may be considered for a replacement<\/p>\n

bicycle or scooter, depending on program availability and eligibility criteria,\u201d Reeder said.<\/p>\n

Related: USF annual safety report shows surge in stalking, scooter theft<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Manke said his experience with the program reinforced his positive perspective on the service, as both he and his friend were able to get their bicycles back through UP.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis service helps have the security to know that UP is going to pay extra attention to your item, because they already know it exists and it\u2019s their system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that he feels all students with bicycles, scooters or other portable transportation should look into the program and register for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have a bike or a skateboard or any other vehicle of transportation like this, you need to register for protection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s University Police office is located at 13152 Genshaft Drive. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m<\/a>. on weekdays and can be contacted at its non-emergency line, (813)-974-2628, or via email at usfpdcrimeprevention@usf.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

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