The weather is finally starting to heat up, and so are the incidents of bike theft on campus and in the State College area.

Penn State Police Services said there have been 10 reported bike thefts on campus for the month of April, and that is far from the norm.

"That's very much over what we typically get reported," Officer Robert Jeter said.

Officer Tony Lopinsky of the State College Police Department said the situation is not much better in the borough, where an average of one or two bikes is stolen each week.

Lopinsky said best suggestion for bike owners to prevent their investment from being stolen is to obtain a quality lock.

"Locks keep honest people honest," Lopinsky said.

But cheap chain-locks and even cable-locks are not enough to keep thieves from making off with a bike, he said.

"You can take a pair of cutters and cut right through a cable lock," Lopinsky said.

He recommends investing in a U-lock, which are a little more expensive but provide a better defense against theft.

Owners should not lock their bikes to a signpost that can easily be pulled out of the ground, and people should make sure that they use the lock correctly, Lopinsky said. "A lot of what gets stolen are bikes that aren't properly secured," he said.

Bike owners should use a bike rack and make sure that both the rear wheel and the bike frame are secured to the rack, Lopinsky said.

There are several types of locks available, which vary in expense.

Mike Elliott, salesman for The Bicycle Shop, 441 W. College Ave., said locks at his store range from $25 to $130. The more expensive locks offer a guarantee against theft and will replace the bike if stolen.

People should choose what lock is best for them based on how much they want to spend and how safe they want to be, Elliott said.

But Elliott added that while locks are important, if someone wants a bike there is no sure-fire method of preventing theft.

"They are all just theft deterrents," he said.

"The whole idea is to make your bike less attractive than the one next to it," Elliott added.

Jeter said another important way to protect bikes is to register the bike with the Penn State police. Registering a bike's serial number, make and model will help police recover it if it is stolen, he said.

Registration is free and can be done 24 hours a day and seven days a week at the Eisenhower Parking Deck, he said.

Students who wish to register should bring their bike and their student identification card with them.