Bike theft is a huge problem in the Bay Area, but there are some simple steps we can take to do something about it. It is well known that local flea markets are a popular venue for stolen bicycles to be sold, and one of the largest is held in the parking lot of Laney College in Downtown Oakland every Sunday (view news reports on this issue here and here). As such, cracking down on illegitimate sales at this location will restrict the stream of stolen goods, making bikes less of an appealing target for potential thieves while also improving the market for legitimate retailers.

East Bay Bicycle Coalition staff and board members are already coordinating with representatives from Laney College, Oakland PD, SF PD, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, in an effort to curtail the large number of stolen bikes being sold at the Laney Flea Market every Sunday. However, also we need the market operator to be on board with this effort 100% as well to ensure its success.

Please sign this petition encouraging the Laney Flea Maket management to cooperate fully with the bike coalition and law enforcement and take their recommended steps to crack down the sale of stolen bikes.

Learn more about how to protect your bicycle from theft, or how to go about recovering a bike if it is stolen, online at www.ebbc.org/theft_prevention.