Sunday, November 27, 2016
Fairfax Co Bike Theft Map, 2014-2016
We recently received data on locations of bike thefts in Fairfax Co between 2014-2016. Using Google Maps we've mapped those locations. There were nearly 1,000 thefts over the almost three year period, averaging about 1 bike theft every day. We wanted to know if there appeared to be a geographic pattern to the thefts.There are obvious clusters in the more developed parts of the county such as Reston, Chantilly, Burke, Springfield, Baileys Crossroads, and the Route 1 corridor. Several thefts occurred around the Dunn Loring Metro Station.
I guess the take home message is that it's always a good idea to secure your bike with a good lock.
 |
| Bike thefts around Dunn Loring Metro Station |
Obtaining the data was not easy. We initially asked police for the data. It exists in the Daily Blotter and so it seemed like a straightforward request. We were told that the data existed in a database, but "to narrow down the search of just bicycle thefts will require a FOIA request." We made the request, paid around $25, and received the data in a pdf document that we converted to a spreadsheet. We then imported the data into Google Maps.
Labels: bike thefts
Monday, October 10, 2016
Bicycle Thefts in Fairfax County
We've been trying to gather bicycle theft data for Fairfax County. We don't have a good understanding of how many thefts are occurring and where they occur. We've asked Fairfax Co Police on multiple occasions and have not been able to obtain data that we can map.
"The daily police blotter is a report put together manually with the creator looking at the exact address and changing it in the Word document to a block number. This is not a field that is readily available."
If in digital form, the address could easily be rounded to create the block number.
In order to extract the data, we would need to go to each daily blotter post, search for bicycles, and cut and past the data (or have a program to do the same). Thinking there should be an easy way to extract this information from the database, we asked again. This was the response:
In order to extract the data, we would need to go to each daily blotter post, search for bicycles, and cut and past the data (or have a program to do the same). Thinking there should be an easy way to extract this information from the database, we asked again. This was the response:
"Theft or Larceny incidents are all categorized the same and listed as singular entries, so larceny is how it is put into the records management system. The item that was taken, in your case a bicycle, is listed separately. ... what it means is to narrow down the search of just bicycle thefts will require a FOIA request. You can make a FOIA request by calling 703-246-2918 or you can email FCPDFOIA@Fairfaxcounty.gov."
We were also told that anyone can access this data in map form using an application called CrimeReports.com. Fairfax County supplies data to the system and bike theft data is included. Below is a screen capture of a section of a map showing Thefts in the area around the Dunn Loring Metro station. Three bike thefts are shown during the past 6 months, which is how far back you can search, but only one can be highlighted.
If zoomed too far out, no incidents are displayed.
Searching is not intuitive. To create the above map I zoomed to the area, clicked on "Filter" under the search window, unselected all and then selected "Theft." Map icons will then show up, either in the form of a diamond ring or a circle with a number inside indicating multiple incidents. On the right there is a dark green box containing: "List <" Clicking on List will bring up the agency. If more than one appears select Fairfax County Police Department. To see the incidents, use the tab at the top next to "Agencies" that says "Incidents." You can then scroll to "Larceny - Theft of Bicycles."
If you want to see whether any bike thefts have occurred recently in your neighborhood you can use this application. Since this data is mapped, we're not sure why it can't be released as map data by the county. If we obtain a countywide map of bike thefts we'll publish it here.
Labels: bike thefts, fairfax county police
Friday, November 20, 2015
Free Access to Metro Bike & Ride Parking
 |
| Photo: Washington Post |
Like the Wiehe-Reston East bike room, the fees to use the secure room were very affordable. Nevertheless, the fees and application process were a barrier to use of the room. Making the rooms more accessible should encourage more people to bike to the stations.
At the Wiehle station, the free, covered bike parking just outside the secure room is usually filled to capacity. The bike room, while heavily used, has considerable room for additional bikes to be parked. We think the county will now face some pressure to follow WMATA's lead and make the Wiehle room more accessibly as well. It would no longer be a "secure" room since anyone with a SmartTrip card could enter, but most people lock their bikes in the room anyway. Cameras are located in the room which add a level of security if access is opened up.
The Wiehle bike room isn't exactly secure now. Not long ago, on two occasions we were filming a segment on bike parking in the covered area outside the bike room. Within a few minutes security guards approached and asked what we were doing. They told us that several unlocked bikes had been stolen from the bike room recently. It's reassuring that they were keeping watch to ensure it didn't happen again. That was the first we had heard of the problem. We've been told by the county that they are working to make the room more secure.
Police do report bike thefts. We have tried to get geo-referenced bike theft data but have not been successful, although we haven't pressed the issue. We know the data is available in The Daily Blotter published by Fairfax Co police.
When we asked for a digital file we were told that the "police blotter is a report put together manually with the creator looking at the exact address and changing it in the Word document to a block number. This is not a field that is readily available." Sounds like the process could be relatively easily automated. If you'd like to volunteer to extract the bicycle theft data for the blotter, please let us know. The goal would be production of a map showing bike thefts in the county. Wouldn't you want to know where thefts are occurring?
Labels: bike thefts, college park, park and ride, wiehle station bike room
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Fairfax Police release video of bike theft
Security cameras recorded video of a bike theft in progress at The Shelby, an apartment complex on N. Kings Hwy near Route 1. Fairfax County Police are asking for help in identifying the thieves. See the news release Help Us Solve This Bicycle Larceny copied below the video:
Bicycles were stolen from the parking garage of The Shelby, 6200 N. Kings Highway, in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. These thefts occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Anyone with information should contact Detective M. Wallace at (703)360-8400 ext. 2249. Callers may remain anonymous.
There have been 660 bicycles stolen in Fairfax County from January 2014-YTD 2015.
Help prevent theft; tips from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association:http://www.waba.org/resources/preventing-bicycle-theft/.
FABB is trying to obtain a list of recent bike thefts so we can produce a map to show where thefts are occurring around the county. Police have given us dates of the thefts but not address information even though that information is available from the Daily Police Blotter releases on the Police News site under Larcenies in this format: 6300 block of Millwood Court, bicycle from residence. Police blotter reports prior to September 13, 2014 are compiled online in a slightly different format. If you would like to help extract this information, let us know.There have been 660 bicycles stolen in Fairfax County from January 2014-YTD 2015.
Help prevent theft; tips from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association:http://www.waba.org/resources/preventing-bicycle-theft/.
Labels: alexandria, bike thefts, police blotter
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Increase in DC area bike thefts
The Sunday Post has a good article on bicycle theft in the region, Bike thefts rise in D.C. and Northern Virginia, with Metro stations frequently targeted. See our blog post in September about increased thefts in Fairfax.From the Post article:
 |
| Photo: Washington Post |
D.C. police reported arresting 98 people for bike thefts in 2012, up from 65 arrests the year before.
The rise in thefts might be partly a result of the District’s success in promoting bicycle use. The percentage of people biking to work in the city increased more than 30 percent from 2011 to 2012, based on data from the U.S. Census, adding tens of thousands more bicyclists to the road.
“There’s more people biking, there’s more bikes on the street and there are more people riding who may not know the best way to lock up their bikes,” said Greg Billing, the advocacy coordinator at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. “There are definitely professional bike thieves seeking high-end bikes that aren’t locked properly and will sell them for a lot of money.” There are also, he said, “dumb kids looking to do something.”
Metro stations are a frequent target. They have seen a 50 percent increase in bike thefts over the past year, from 202 reports last year to 303 as of the end of August this year, said Morgan Dye, a spokeswoman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Labels: bike thefts
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Bike thefts increasing in Fairfax County
According to the Post article Bike thefts on the rise in Fairfax County, bike thefts in Fairfax County rose 36% this year over last. It was a surprise to me that the McLean area was hit hard with 86 bikes stolen. It's best to always lock your bike, even if you're stopped for just a short while.From the article:
The McLean area, police said, appears to have taken a significant hit, with 86 bikes reported stolen.
Many of the bikes were taken when residents left their garage doors open. “Thieves simply seize the opportunity, take the bikes, and walk away,” police said in a news release.
Bike thefts in Arlington County are also on the rise, reaching an all-time high this year, police reported in August.
Authorities are urging residents to take the following precautions to prevent thefts:
• Keep garage doors closed, and don’t leave bikes outside for extended periods of time. “Thieves may be watching and may target ‘unused’ bikes,” police said.
• Invest in a hardened steel U-lock.
• Consider installing motion sensor lights or alarms on your property.
• Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number.
• Register your bicycle on the National Bike Registry.
•Report the stolen item online.
Labels: bike thefts
