Registry helps recover lost or stolen bikes BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer EDISON - Bike owners in Edison Township need not despair if their rides are stolen, provided they've registered it with the Edison Police Department. The department maintains an active bike registry for owners in the township that can help people recover their bikes if they are stolen. Greatly contributing to the program was Eagle Scout Matthew Seesselberg, 16, who made it his project after seeing how many bikes were stolen but never returned to their owners. "I got the idea while attending police academy one year and they brought us into the room with a bunch of stolen bikes they can't return, and I was trying to think of an Eagle Scout project. Edison Township doesn't have a bike registry, so why not just create one for them?" said Seesselberg, who attends Edison High School. Sgt. Robert Dudash, the police department's public information officer, said the department has had an active registry for years, but he did credit Seesselberg with greatly contributing to it as well as being vital in getting the word out about it. Seesselberg said he brought his ideas before the township and the police department, both of which were enthusiastic about it. In his work, he modified some forms the police used for registering bikes, and then he worked to obtain publicity for the program. He said he started work on the project about two years ago. When registering, police take down vital information about the bike, such as the make, model, color and serial number, which is entered into a database. A sticker with a number on it is then issued, to be placed on the bike. "So, the bicycle, if recovered [after being lost or stolen], can now be tracked back to … the owner. Now the bicycle itself, let's say someone were to peel the sticker off. Even looking at the appearance, hopefully we can track the owner back that way as well," said Dudash. People interested should call (732) 248-7419 and make an appointment to either come to police headquarters or to have an officer come to their residence or place of work. Seesselberg also enjoys computer programming and works with the stage crew of his high school's drama club. He plans to study robotics and computer programming in college.