Bike theft is always a problem -- stolen bikes are easily re-sold or parted out; stolen bikes provide their own get-away vehicle, and unlocked bikes are a temptation for late-night play. The UW-L campus is doing its part. At 39 separate locations across campus, there are a total of 2,179 available rack “elements,” defined as possible locations to lock a bicycle to an appropriately installed post. And the UW-L Police provide education on appropriate locking behavior, as well as enforcement like the "Bait Bike" program.
But you can help too! Register your bike with several different institutions, starting with the UW-L police -- it's free, fast, and online:
The City of La Crosse Police Department also has free bike registration, though it is not yet online:
City of La Crosse Bike Registration
And consider some of the new, national online bike registration websites for particularly valuable bikes, reviewed by the DRBC here:
And take some time to think about improving your locking behavior. In this Streetfilms video, the legendary Hal Ruzal teaches New Yorkers how to lock their bikes in some of the most theft-prone streets in America:
The original film: