Incirlik Air Base stands up online Bicycle Task Force

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Joseph Cortez
  • 39th Security Forces Sqaudron Officer in Charge of the S2, Investigations and Intelligence section
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The 39th Security Forces Squadron recently adapted the use of technology to combat one of the most frequented crimes on base --bicycle theft. 

The investigations and intelligence section has combined efforts with the police services section to create the Incirlik Bike Theft Task Force, which aims to decrease bike thefts while proportionally increasing the amount of reports made to security forces. 

Technology changes so fast that by the time one purchases the latest trend, there is already a newer model or version being prepared for distribution.  However, the one thing technology will not change is the commission of a crime.

To aid in the reduction of bike theft at Incirlik, the 39 SFS has created a Facebook account under the name of Incirlik Bike Theft Task Force. 

"Our team is now using this social media tool to investigate bicycle theft and record trends throughout the base," said 1st Lt. Joseph Cortez, 39th SFS Officer in Charge of the S2, Investigations and Intelligence section.  "Data collection is paramount in creating trends throughout the base where we can target our investigations and carry out operations to catch these criminals."

The Incirlik Bike Theft Task Force Facebook page was created in order to offer a means for the populace to quickly report bicycles as missing or stolen. This does not, however, take the place of making a formal report with the Base Defense Operations Center, but does allow for faster service to engage with the victim and track the suspects in a timely manner. 

"Without a formal report when the incident occurs, our job becomes that much more difficult to catch up to these criminals," said Cortez. "A post to the page directly or a tag in a status update will alert the Security Forces via informal channels and the process of recouping the bicycle can begin.  For those who do not use Facebook, the police services section has an e-mail account where people can reach them as well.

"Our goal is to ensure our base community is safe in every way," Cortez said. "We stand ready to support our community to ensure its safety and the safety of its possessions." 

To report a bike theft online, personnel and dependents are encouraged to like the Incirlik Bike Theft Task Force Facebook Page here or send an email to incirlikpoliceservices@gmail.com.