As the spring thaw grows closer and students can once again take to their bicycles, many have found that their bicycles have disappeared -- to theives. Bo Pitkin (junior-architectural engineering) returned to State College from his winter break to find his GT Questa mountain bicycle missing from his fraternity house. Pitkin had left his bike in the hallway of Sigma Chi fraternity, 400 E. Prospect Ave., where he lives. But when he returned, it was gone.

Pitkin said he used his Questa often in the warmer months and it is worth about $300. His bike is registered with the Centre Region and police are now in the process of attempting to trace its whereabouts.

Pitkin, however, is only one of many to have had their bikes stolen this school year in State College. Since classes began in August, 53 bicycles have been stolen in the downtown area, the State College Police Department said. On campus last year, 100 bikes were reported stolen and 42 incidents of stolen parts were reported, Univerity Police Services said.

University Police Officer Donald Reed said unlocked bikes and those with cheaper locks are the most commonly taken. But more recently, even bicycles with the more complicated U-bolt and cable locks have been stolen.

Kathy May's bicycle was taken from outside Shulze Hall, where it was locked to a bike rack with a U-lock. Because May (freshman-marketing and international business) said she secured the bike to the rack by the tire and not the frame, the thieves were able to unhinge the tire and take the frame of the bike.

May's bike was recovered five weeks later through the efforts of both the University and State College police. The bike was identified by a serial number.

Eric Peterson, sales consultant at New Age Bicyclesport, 232-A W. College Ave., recommends students invest in a U-lock to ensure maximum security for their bike. According to Peterson, the U-lock is best because it is made of solid metal, which cannot be cut with a hacksaw or a bolt cutter.

The U-lock also has a tubular key mechanism, making it more difficult to break than most bike locks, which use regular keys. Peterson said the Kryptonite "Krypto-loc" is the best on the market today. It sells for about $30 including a theft-replacement guarantee.

To prevent an increase in thefts, both the University and State College police have organized bike patrols. Each consists of six or eight officers specifically trained in bicycle tactics. Such officers serve their shifts on a bike instead of in a patrol car. This allows them to cover more ground and, in particular, areas that cannot be reached by car, which are commonly places bicycles are stored.

But bicycles continue to be stolen. Reed said he strongly recommends all students invest in a lock and consistently use it to secure their bicycles to something stationary.

He also advises students to register their bikes with the Centre Region. The Centre Region by law requires that all local residents and students register their bikes as a precautionary measure in the case of a misfortune such as a theft.

That service is "extremely important because it allows for bikes to be identified by number, rather than merely an easily misinterpreted description," Pitkin said. The registration system is Pitkin's hope for recovering his bicycle.

May's bike was also registered with the Centre Region, but it did not help her to recover the bike because the registration sticker had been ripped off it. She said she thinks the system needs to be changed by using something more permanent than a sticker to attach the identification number.

Bikes can be registered on campus for free and off campus for $1 at any bike specialty shop.