I stole my own bike when I was in college in the '80s. Campus security decided that all bikes needed to be locked to bike racks, no poles, fences, etc. They'd put a heavy chain on your bike and make you pay a $5 fine to release it.
I wasn't going to play that game so I spent $8 to rent a huge chain cutter and stole my own bike. I was a music major and the janitor of the music building was "the eyes & ears" of the building. He knew I had more than 1 bike and told me campus security was keeping an eye out for my Stumpjumper and I should ride something else for awhile.