This past weekend, we learned that our Albany bike trailer was broken into and nine of our bike safety bikes were stolen. The BTA teaches our Bicycle Safety Education program to approximately 75% of Albany fifth graders, and the loss of the bikes impacts our current classes as well as future efforts. With an insufficient fleet, kids will lose on-bike practice time, part of what makes our program a national model.
While we’re trying to piece together details, we learned of the theft on Saturday. Since then, Albany super-volunteer Jim Lawrence found three of the bikes, and one person is in jail.
Read the news story, from the Albany Democrat-Herald.
Read the TV news story from KPTV.
We estimate the loss (damage to the trailer, missing bikes, and bike damage) to be around $2,500, and are also needing to increase security to deter future thieves (we had already purchased an alarm system planned to be installed in a couple weeks). Financial support, or donation of high-quality kids’ bikes with hand brakes and gears, would be appreciated.
If you have any possible leads on the case, please contact Officer Knowell at the Albany Police Department at (541) 917-7686.
If you would like to make a donation to help our Albany program get back on its feet, you can give here.
Note: many folks think that the BTA is a Portland organization. In fact, we’re statewide, and serve SW Washington as well.
