VCU news

By Patrick Kane

The VCU Police Department is rolling out a technology upgrade to keep bicycles and computers safe from theft. The Anti Theft Dots registration system, available starting this semester, uses microscopic dots with serial numbers saved to an online database.

“Larceny is the most-prevalent offense on any college campus, and the most-taken items are bicycles and computers,” said Assistant Chief of Police Chris Preuss. “They are ubiquitous in nature on a college campus, and a lot of the time easily taken. So we’re trying to do what we can to leverage technology to combat those crimes.”

Like the old VCU Police registration system, the new method features a sticker applied to the bike or computer. However, if a criminal were to peel off the sticker, microscopic dots remain behind — unique markers matched to the device’s serial number. The dots are very durable, unaffected by household cleaners, heat (up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and sunshine.

“They are smaller than a grain of sand. What they are is DNA — think of it as individual drops of blood,” Preuss said. “If you remove the sticker, it stays on the bike. The dots will remain behind. They cannot be removed.”

Freshman Spencer Rodman was among the first to register his bike in the new system. Officers on the Compass handed him a sticker, information packet and a tablet to enter information. He flipped his bike onto the handlebars and seat to find the manufacturer’s serial number.

“I think it’s definitely a lot safer. My dad just dropped it off today,” Rodman said while typing a description of his mountain bike into the online database. “It will be faster than walking around.”

At the time of registration, officers and staff will help people enter the sticker’s serial numbers and property description into the online database, which can then be used to find the owner.

“One of the biggest problems we have is recovering property and then trying to find the owner,” Preuss said. “Most people do not know the serial number on their bicycles, computers, televisions — anything of value. This gives us a unique advantage in doing that.”

Students, faculty and staff are invited to register their property, and take part in other activities geared toward cyclists, during the Great Bike Round Up, which will be held Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the University Student Commons Plaza.

The Great Bike Roundup is hosted by VCU Parking and Transportation. VCU community members can receive free bike checks from VCU RamBikes technicians, meet experts from local bike shops and cycling-related organizations and enter to win free merchandise. The grand prize is a new Fuji Feather bike.

“We are excited to host the Great Bike Roundup for another year,” said Algappan Subramanian, interim director of Parking and Transportation. “The event provides the perfect platform to break down barriers to cycling, promote bicycle safety and showcase the various bike-related resources here at VCU, as well as the surrounding Richmond area.”

Participants in the Great Bike Roundup include RideRichmond, VCU's Outdoor Adventure Program, Assistant Professor John Freyer and Rams in Recovery’s coffee bike, Powers Bike Shop, Rag n' Bones, Bike Walk RVA and the VCU Office of Sustainability.

“The Office of Sustainability is thrilled to promote alternative transportation methods at the annual Great Bike Roundup,” said Erin Stanforth, director of Sustainability at VCU. “Many people do not feel comfortable utilizing alternative transportation to get to classes or work, because they have do not know how to do so.  Our hope at this event is to give our VCU community the tools to utilize our alternative transportation methods effectively.”

New students, including members of the record-breaking class of 2020, are finding that cycling is a green, easy way to get around the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

Freshman Skye Shannon recently registered a bike “in case it gets stolen.”

Police hope many cyclists attend the event to take advantage of the new registration system and prepare for a new year on campus. 

“We’re going to be putting [the dots] on bicycles and laptops to help combat larceny, and if things are stolen, to be able to bring them back to their rightful owners,” Preuss said.

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