A local man is facing a felony charge after allegedly stealing one bicycle and attempting to steal another at the College earlier this month.
During the past nine months, more than 40 bicycles have been stolen in the Hanover area. Police have recovered 10 of the stolen bikes within the last month.
A grand jury indicted Chad Rogers, 19, of Lebanon, Wednesday on the charge of felony theft, said Captain Chris O'Connor of the Hanover Police Department.
Rogers' case will be heard at the Superior Court of Grafton County at a date that has yet to be determined. The case itself will be prosecuted by the county attorney, O'Connor said.
Theft of objects with a value exceeding $500 may result in a felony charge, rather than a misdemeanor, O'Connor said.
The law allows the police to "use their own discretion as to whether or not to bring charges forward as a misdemeanor or a felony," O'Connor said.
"Nowadays most of the [stolen bicycle] cases we deal with reach the felony value very easily," O'Connor said. "The average bike on campus probably has a minimum retail value of $350."
O'Connor said police arrested Rogers after a Safety and Security officer reported a suspicious truck parked near Thayer dining hall on Sept. 21.
After police confirmed a bicycle had been stolen from the area and conducted a lengthy investigation, Rogers was charged with the theft and arrested, O'Connor said.
