Bike thefts

Bike thefts

We have recently received 2 x reports of bike, details are:

Inc 352 - 16/9

A black Vanwall cycle was stolen from a rear garden on Tealby Street

Inc 330 - 16/9

A Carrera Hellcat, described as black with blue writing and white grips, was stolen from the High St between McDonalds and Nationwide between 15:30 - 17:00.

If you have any information on these crimes please call the police on 101 quoting the relevant incident number & date

Follow these 10 tips to ensure your bike remains safe, secure and not a statistic.

1. Double lock it

Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target. Use two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock. Thieves are less likely to carry multiple tools, so use two different types of lock if possible.

2. Lock the lot

Lock the frame and both wheels to a secure cycle stand.

3. Secure it

Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre.

4. Take removable parts with you

Take parts that are easy to remove with you, such as wheels, lights, baskets or the saddle. Or use locking skewers or nuts which can increase security by securing the bike's components to the frame permanently.

5. Park securely

Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV.

6. Register it

Register your frame number for free on a cycle database such as BikeRegister or immobilise.com. Alternative companies can be found on the Secured by Design website. The frame number is usually found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in. If your bike is ever stolen and recovered by the police, it can be traced back to you.

7. Mark it

Get your bike security marked. It’s a highly effective, visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested. Bikeregister provide a list of police bike marking events. You can also mark your bike with SmartWater.

8. Remember safety begins at home

Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street. Avoid advertising that you have a bike at home, for example, by removing car roof racks, and creating ‘privacy zones’ on apps like Strava to avoid disclosing your location. 

9. Check ownership

Ask for proof of ownership and check the bike frame number on a cycle database such as Bike Checker at BikeRegister. Alternative companies can be found on the Secured by Design website. 

10. Act fast 

If your bike has been stolen, contact us as soon as possible by calling 101 or reporting online. Give us your frame number, cycle database number, a photo and any other details and make sure you update the status on the cycle database where you registered it. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act, which might stop it being sold on.