BAKER CITY — Visitors to the community as well as people who live in Baker City should be on the alert to keep their personal belongings safe and secure, Police Chief Ray Duman advised.

The police department ssued a public service announcement on its Facebook page directing those who have friends and family members visiting in the waning days of summer to take their bicycles and other valuables inside rather than leaving them tethered to their vehicles.

Duman said police officers will be soliciting the help of the motel owners in town as well, asking them to caution their guests not to leave their bicycles outside, even if they are locked.

“A good pair of bolt cutters can go through a lot of stuff,” Duman said.

Thefts have been rampant in the community recently, Duman said.

“After 10 o’clock this city turns over,” he said. “We have a lot of people who have methamphetamine problems in this community and these guys, that’s what they do to get their money for their drugs — they’ll take anything they can.”

Police routinely recover a large number of bikes that have been stolen and later ditched. But without a bicycle license, which can be obtained free at the Baker City Police Department at 1768 Auburn Ave., there’s no way to know who the recovered bicycles belong to, Duman said.

In some cases, parts have been swapped out to disguise the bicycles, and others have been spray-painted.

Duman says the point is the police cannot be everywhere, and people need to look out for themselves to some degree.

“Lock your cars and don’t leave valuables in your cars,” he said. “A locked car doesn’t do well against a hammer on a window.”

Leaving change in a vehicle’s cup holder also is a draw for some thieves.

“Smash, grab and down the road you go,” Duman said. “It’s about opportunity and it just takes seconds for it to occur.”

The police chief said it’s unclear whether the crimes are being committed by just a couple of people or a larger number.

“I’m excited to have more room in the jail.”

— Greg Baxter, Baker County District Attorney