Happy hump day, Boulder. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

In our main story today, John Herrick and Henry Larson analyze bike theft data in Boulder, in the context of rising crime across the city. Though in 2021, residents reported 939 stolen bikes to city police — totaling $1.8 million in stolen property value — it was a slight drop from 2020, when 1,129 bikes were reported stolen. Bike thefts may be holding relatively steady, but catalytic converter thefts aren’t, as John and Henry report. Separately, you’ll find updated details below on the police department’s giveaway to help deter catalytic converter thefts. Plus much more community info.

See you Friday,

— Tim, reporter

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What to know today

  • Hot, chance of showers: Mostly sunny today with 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. High of 88.
  • Man with note robs Boulder bank: A man displaying a note robbed Vectra Bank, at 2696 Broadway, on Tuesday afternoon. The robber was described as a white man wearing a long-sleeved shirt, shorts and a black bucket/Fisherman’s hat, police said. Officers responded, but he was already gone. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police or the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers.
  • Catalytic converter anti-theft kit giveaway moved: Due to high demand, CU Boulder Police and Boulder Police Department have moved their anti-theft kit giveaway to the south side of Fiske Planetarium on campus (2414 Regent Drive) for easier access. The event is Thursday, Aug. 24 from 2-4 p.m. In 2021, the approximate 270 stolen catalytic converters in Boulder totaled more than $500,000, according to officials. The converters hold precious metals such as rhodium, palladium and platinum that can be sold for up to $1,200 if taken off a hybrid vehicle. Details here.
  • Homeless day center focus group: Boulder is hosting a public meeting today at 5-6:30 p.m. to gather feedback on creating an indoor space for homeless people to go to during the day. Currently, the city’s largest nonprofit-run shelter in North Boulder closes during daytime hours. That includes during winter winter months when temperatures dip below freezing. This year, Boulder City Council made it a priority to create a day shelter to provide people a warm place to go. The shelter would also help those in need obtain subsidized housing vouchers, sign up for benefits, or access other services that help pay for housing. There will be an additional focus group on Friday at 12-1:30 p.m. Join the meetings here and here.
  • 30th Street closure: From Sept. 10-23, if your commute takes you through the intersection at 30th and Colorado, you’re going to want to find another way: The intersection, one of the busiest in the city, will be closed to pedestrians, bikes and cars for the completion of two bike and pedestrian underpasses. The work is part of the city’s Core Arterial Network (CAN) project, which you can learn about here.
  • Boulder County joins U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief in defense of LGBTQ+ rights: Boulder County joined San Francisco and 52 other local jurisdictions in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief was filed as part of case 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. The case involves Colorado web designer Lorie Smith, who says she intends to limit her wedding-related services to heterosexual marriages because of her religious beliefs. The brief argues a business owner’s religious convictions do not give a business open to the public the right to discriminate against customers.

Go deeper

‘The hottest products in Boulder’: Mapping bike thefts across the city

By John Herrick and Henry Larson

Boulder Reporting Lab analyzed the Boulder Police Department’s stolen bike data to better understand the amount and location of bike thefts amid the recent surge in reported crime. While reported thefts have remained steady in recent years, thefts are happening all over the city. And the police are recovering fewer bikes.

Officers have some tips for what you can do before your bike is stolen to help you get it back. The most important step residents can take, they say, is to document its serial number, take a photo of it, and register it on Bike Index, a California-based nonprofit that sends tips to local investigators. 

“We find bikes all the time. We find bikes abandoned. But if they’re not registered, and they’re not reported stolen, then we can’t do anything about it.”

Continue reading…

BRL picks

🦆 Duck race at Scott Carpenter Park: Adopting a pet can provide fulfilling companionship, but also requires some level of commitment and maturity. Adopting a rubber duck, however, requires neither. This Sunday, Aug. 28 from 3-5 p.m., at Scott Carpenter Park you can see if a tub toy provides the buddy you’re looking for. Even if it doesn’t, send it racing around the lazy river and help fund Boulder Parks and Recreation’s programming for low-income families and people with disabilities.

👩‍🌾 Apply to be a vendor at the 2022 Boulder County Winter Market: Boulder County Farmers Markets is now accepting applications for the 2022 Winter Market that will be December 3 and 4 at the Longmont Fairgrounds. “BCFM is looking for outstanding Boulder County and Colorado farmers, food producers, and artisans to join us for this fun and festive holiday market celebrating the very best of local.” You must grow or produce your own product to apply. Details here.

🎁 Donate to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless: Running low on their most requested self-care items such as blankets, soap and towels, Boulder’s largest shelter provided an Amazon Wishlist that makes it easy for Boulderites to purchase items for those in need. If you’d rather purchase these supplies elsewhere, you can drop off your donation every day before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00pm at 4869 N. Broadway in Boulder. More info here.

Covid in Boulder County: Aug. 24, 2022

  • 89 daily new cases (7-day avg.) ⬇Down 25% over preceding 7-day avg.
  • 12 patients hospitalized with Covid (7-day avg.) ⬇Down from high of 13 last week.
  • 33% percent of ICU is occupied. ⬇Down from avg. of 66% since July 2020.
  • Note: Boulder County has moved into the “low community level” for transmission, per CDC guidelines.

What else we’re reading

  • Nederland’s last full time police officer put in her letter of resignation last Thursday. Come September 30, the town (pop. ~1,500) will be without any full-time officers. Its board of trustees is now considering other options, including paying the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office to take over.
  • The Target in Superior, which has been closed since the Marshall Fire, is reopening Tuesday, Aug. 30. The store’s roof caught fire in the disaster, triggering its sprinkler system to activate. But the sprinklers failed to shut off, flooding the store, Superior Mayor Clint Folsom said in a Facebook post explaining the eight-month closure and announcing the reopening.

ICYMI

Tim Drugan was a climate and environment reporter for Boulder Reporting Lab.