SHAWANO, WI- With summer approaching, the Shawano Police Department is stepping up its efforts to combat a seasonal spike in vehicle break-ins and vandalism by launching a new bike patrol initiative.
Officer Tyler Thornborrow says the department is responding to a trend known as “car shopping,” in which groups of individuals roam neighborhoods late at night, checking for unlocked vehicles and taking valuables left inside.
“We get groups that go around the city… they call it car shopping,” Thornborrow explained. “The number one thing you can do during the summer is lock your vehicle. Lock, lock, lock your doors.”
While emphasizing that Shawano remains a safe community, Thornborrow noted that complacency can make residents easy targets. “Don’t offer stuff up to make yourself a soft or easy target,” he said.
To help crack down on these crimes, the department has acquired two bicycles for officers to use on patrol. The new bike units will allow police to move more quietly and navigate tighter areas such as alleyways—places often used by suspects to avoid detection.
“You can hear a squad car in the middle of the night when everything’s quiet,” Thornborrow said. “Those bikes are a lot quieter on the road, but they’re also very versatile… These individuals are not walking down the center of the road. They’re coming from alleyways and other vehicles.”
Thornborrow also highlighted that the presence of bike officers will help curb vandalism in city parks, as their low-profile approach can catch offenders off guard.
“If you’re going to vandalize or spray paint a park, you can see a squad car from a long way off. But how can you see a bike parked by a tree with an officer standing there?” he said.
The department encourages all residents to lock their vehicles, secure belongings, and report suspicious activity as part of a collective effort to keep Shawano safe this summer.
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