GAINESVILLE - Police are going undercover to make sure residents bikes are not stolen. 

This comes after getting numerous reports in one month that thefts were happening.

The Gainesville Police Department Operations and Downtown Unit set up "bait bike."  A bait bike is set up as a regular bike but it's unlocked. 

Police left the unlocked bike at the Alachua County Library since that's where police said most of the thefts happened.

"Regular people come and stop and set their bike down just to go into the library and when they do it gets stolen," Officer Tristan Grunder said.

Police arrested 24 year old Michael Kirkland Junior for allegedly stealing the bait bike. Police claimed he stole the bike because his friend needed a bike.  

"We're trying to cut down on the number of bikes that get stolen,"  Grunder said.

Kirkland has been charged with grand theft since the bike police said he stole is worth 750 dollars.