Lock Up Your Bikes

Montclair Police officials are warning residents to lock up their bicycles following a rash of thefts this past week.

On Friday, a Midland Avenue resident told police that three bikes were stolen from the garage at the end of his driveway. He said that neither the bikes—or the garage—had been locked up. Taken were a lavender men’s mountain bike, a pink and white women’s mountain bike, and a blue/white/black boy's bike.

In another incident last week, a Valley Road resident told police that she was having a yard sale with several items on display, including a black and white Mongoose bicycle. During the sale, a light-skinned black juvenile approached her and asked to test ride the bike. He took it for a ride and then gave it back to the homeowner, advising her that he would return with the money to purchase it.

He did indeed return a short time later and asked to test ride the bike again. This time, though, he fled east on Claremont Avenue and never returned.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Juvenile Aid Bureau at 973-744-1234.

Since the start of summer, police say there's been a string of bike thefts, often from unsecured garages.