In the early morning of April 23, the University of Texas Police at Houston’s (UT Police) Risk Operations Center (ROC) received a system alert that the department’s bait bike, which had been placed at UTHealth’s Medical School Building’s bike rack, was on the move. Police officers were dispatched to try track it using GPS tracking technology. They found the subject riding the bike, took him into custody and recovered the hi-tech bike. The offender, Mikel Robert Magee, was arrested for theft and outstanding warrants.

The ROC received a second bait bike alert the afternoon of May 9. An electronically monitored bicycle had been removed from its original location at the Medical School Building bike rack. Review of camera footage showed the suspect jumping a fence and removing the bike from its location. UT Police officers tracked the bike to the Metro bus stop located at Fannin Street and Cambridge Street. UT Police officers found the offender, Jeffrey Jones, in possession of the bike and he was arrested for theft. 

Bait bikes are part of an initiative coordinated by the UT Police’s Investigations division. It is designed to attract, track and catch bike thieves in action.

Following the arrests, Police Chief William Adcox thanked ROC personnel and police officers for their roles in making the arrest.

“This incident is a true testament of the team work and dedication by everyone involved in protecting our institutions, assets and each other,” wrote Adcox in an email to staff. “We also need to thank the many persons behind the scene in our technical services and risk management who install and keep our radio and video systems running.”

May is National Bike Safety Month. To stay abreast of the latest ways to keep your bike safe from theft and yourself safe while on the road as a rider or as a motorist, visit our Bike Safety page on our website.