Photo by Ryan Holloway.

The war on bikes in Fairfax County continues, as the area has seen a 36 percent jump in thefts.

According to Fairfax County police, there were “roughly” 265 reported bike thefts from the beginning of September 2011 to the end of August 2012. During that same time period this year, there have been 361 thefts. Here are the common-sense things police are suggesting to do to combat this rise.

Close garage doors.

Invest in a hardened steel U-lock.

Don’t leave bicycles outside for days, or nights, on end. Thieves may be watching and may target “unused” bicycles.

Consider installing motion sensor lights or alarms on your property.

Take a photo of your bike and record the serial number; this will aid in recovery should your bike be stolen.

Consider registering your bicycle on the National Bike Registry.

Report the stolen item online.

If your bike does end up being stolen, this man would suggest finding the stolen bike on Craigslist and setting up an elaborate sting operation.

In May 2013, D.C. police told WTOP 1,800 bikes were reported stolen during the past two years. A Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson said today that information on the number of bike thefts this year would have to be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Request to confirm this with MPD spokeswoman Gwen Crump has not been returned.