This past month, the mood on campus has been marred by a series of increasingly brazen electric scooter thefts. Six thefts appeared in the crime log between July 24 and Aug. 6 — roughly two per week and counting — around campus and Powelton Village.
With prices of popular e-scooter models starting around $500, and easily exceeding $1,000, it is easy to speculate that their high values paired with abundant opportunity make scooters a tempting target for theft. Drexel University police have been reached for comment on the situation but have not not replied at time of publication.
Drexel police did provide accounts of two particularly bold scooter-snatchings.
On July 28, an unsuspecting rider was reportedly at 34th and Spring Garden Streets when they were struck by two male assailants on a scooter of their own, knocking them to the ground. They then made off with the complainant’s e-scooter — all at a busy intersection at 7:30 p.m.
Earlier this summer, on June 19, a complainant reported two individuals on a moped pushing them off their scooter at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenues. The female passenger on the moped then grabbed the scooter, and the pair fled. Using a tracker provided by the owner, Philadelphia police were able to locate the stolen scooter in the woman’s possession, taking her into custody. It is unclear whether the male moped driver was apprehended.
Unfortunately, trackers have not been a bulletproof deterrent nor a proven recovery method. Reached via Instagram, student Ryan Loc recounted an expensive e-bike being stolen from Millennium Hall this past May. The tracker ended up discarded at a South Philly park, with the bike nowhere to be found.
Perhaps most tragically, police reported a series of “juveniles” with scooters approaching student riders and asking to test ride their e-scooters — only to ride off with the much more valuable e-scooter and leave the old one behind.
From Drexel Public Safety’s website:
“To help prevent theft, Drexel Police are providing a limited number of steering wheel locks and bicycle locks to students, faculty and staff. Please stop by Drexel Police headquarters at 3219 Arch Street to arrange to pick up a steering wheel lock for your vehicle. Individuals who register their bicycles or scooters with Drexel Public Safety will receive a bicycle lock.
Drexel Parking Services has installed designated electric scooter racks throughout campus to properly secure your device. Do not lock your device onto trees, railings or any other property.”