Suspect Arrested in SCPD Bait Bike Operation

In an effort to combat the all-too-common crime of bicycle theft, SCPD arrested a suspect bike thief who pedaled away on a bait bicycle left in front of downtown restaurant as part of a sting operation.

On January 21, 2017 the Santa Cruz Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET) conducted a bait bike operation. A police bait bike was placed in the 800 block of Pacific Ave. The bike was taken and NET officers located the bike in the 200 block of Church St.

Christopher Harless, 26 years old, a transient male from Santa Cruz was found in possession of the bicycle. He was arrested for grand theft.

Bicycle theft is an ongoing issue that affects so many residents of Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Police

Department is committed to addressing bike theft.The Neighborhood Enforcement Team conducts operations such as this one on an ongoing basis.

The Santa Cruz Police Department recovers hundreds of bikes, but since many aren't registered by serial number, the police have no way to track down the owners. Help improve the chances of your bicycle being returned by registering it with SCPD’s Online Bicycle Registration program.

Residents can also register their bicycles FREE at the police department or FREE Online with SCPD Bicycle Online Registration. 

We encourage residents to always secure their bicycles. SCPD recommends bike owners to invest in U-style locks, which are generally more secure than cable locks, and lock their bikes to an immovable object through both the frame and wheels.

SCPD is dedicated to our community with ongoing efforts to keep Santa Cruz a safe place to live, work and raise a family. Please continue to contact SCPD when suspicious activity occurs in your neighborhood.