Some Statistics For You
We’ve gone over the latest Home Office statistics and found some pretty interesting things that smash some common thoughts about bike theft. Here’s a run down, but for the full infographic click here. I Lock my bike with a secure lock when I’m out, so I’m safe Nope, 69% of bike thefts happen at home I don’t leave my bike somewhere unsafe at night Most bike thefts actually happen during the afternoon and evening, not at night My bikes not very expensive, so I’m safe Specialized, Treks and Giants account for most bike thefts, and they certainly aren’t especially high end bikes But it’s not going to happen to me A bike is stolen every 67 seconds, the threat of bike theft is very real Despite the risk of bike theft, only 36% of cyclists have recorded their frame number. The main thing that helps Police get your bike back. So how does this change anything? With most bikes getting stolen from the home, it’s just as important to properly secure your bike when you get home as when you leave it on the street. If we examine the figures further your bike is most at risk in a shared semi-private area of the home, which includes sheds, garages and corridors. Anchor points are difficult to come by in these places so a normal Dlock won’t cut it, if you store your bike within ear shot you may want to consider purchasing a cheap alarmed padlock (to use with your Dlock). Failing that securing where you store your bike, can stop thieves getting near it in the first place....
Recovering Your Stolen Bike
So if your reading this chances are you’re looking for a way to recover your stolen bike, unfortunately there is no sure fire way but you can drastically help you chances by following these 3 key steps. Quick Links… Stolen Bikes – Stolen Bike Register Find That Bike – Email alerts for eBay, Gumtree and PreLoved Spread the word Report it to the police. Using the 101 service which will put you through to your local police area (use 999 if the theft is in progress or just happened). Write down your crime number as this will be useful for an insurance claim and when spreading the word about your bike theft. Let your insurers know. Remember insurance is a business if they have a reason to not pay out they won’t, most insurers insist that your report the theft to them within 24 hours with a crime a number. If you have a Kryptonite lock you may also be able to claim under their Anti-Theft protection guarantee. Spread the word locally. Make up some flyers to hand out to local businesses you should try to visit every bike shop and pawn shop in your local area, although if this isn’t possible try to email them instead. Also try to get word out to car boot and market organisers although these are often harder to get in contact with. Your flyers should include make/model, a picture of the bike, approximate times it was stolen and a crime number (at the very least). If you can include the frame number and information about any aftermarket parts you fitted. If you...
Surrey Police Displaying 50 Recovered Bikes
Cyclists have the chance to be reunited with their stolen or missing bicycles as Surrey Police open up shop to display the bikes. The police will take over an empty retail unit on the weekend of Saturday, January 19, and Sunday, January 20, to try to reunite bicycle owners with the 50 they will have on display. The bicycles, believed to be lost or stolen, will be on display for members of the public to inspect. Detective Constable Paul Rennison said: “We have reviewed crimes in north Surrey and just over the border in the Thames Valley and Metropolitan Police areas but have been unable to link these bicycles to any burglaries or thefts. “I would urge anyone whose bike has been lost or stolen to come along and check whether theirs is among those on display. “Anyone coming along on the day is asked to bring any documentation they have about their bicycle and any police crime reference numbers they have if it has been reported as stolen property.” Officers will be in an empty retail unit in the Elmsleigh Centre, Staines, from 10am to 4pm on both days. Those who are unable to attend and have had their bicycle stolen and not reported to the police, call 101 to report the theft with a detailed description of the bicycle. Taken from...
17 Bikes Recovered in Northampton
If you had your bike stolen in Northampton you may well be in luck, 17 bikes have been recovered in a single raid on 3rd January 2013. TWO men involved have been arrested on suspicion of stealing pedal cycles after Safer Community Team officers in Northampton carried out a warrant at an industrial unit. The officers from the Northampton South-West SCT raided the unit in Ransome Road and seized a total of 17 bicycles and two bicycle frames, along with 12 bicycle wheels. Two men, both aged 32 and from Kingsthorpe, Northampton, were arrested and are presently in custody at the Criminal Justice Centre. Inspector Jen Helm, from Northampton’s South-West Sector, said: This shows what you can do with a small group of officers who have local knowledge and support and who feel a real responsibility to the part of the county that they police.” Officers are currently establishing the details of the bikes and will be in contact with owners where possible, in the case of any bikes where ownership cannot be established then they will post details on their...London’s Brick Lane A Stolen Bike Hub
So whilst I’ve been looking for my own bike I kept coming across mentions on Brick Lane Market for bikes that were stolen in London. Surely the problem can’t be that bad I thought… After getting a report of my bike being for sale in London, I finally had the opportunity to find out… and boy was I wrong. I’ve found a video on YouTube that effectively demonstrates just how wrong I was, this was most likely shot at roughly the same time I was there as it’s the same people selling the bikes. There are around 5 permanent stands for bike shops (selling both bike parts and used bikes), and then one major place where teenagers stand “their” bikes against the curb in order to flog them to passers by. Even walking through I was offered a laptop by someone that quickly scarpered when I politely declined. The map below shows these locations.. View Stolen Bikes – Brick Lane Market in a larger map Whilst I was there I unfortunately didn’t spot my bike, but had I done I’m not sure what I could of done about it… The teenagers (about 15 of them), appear to be smart enough to keep to one bike each meaning should the police come round the corner they can disappear with their stock in next to no time (this happened more than once that day). In short if your bicycle is stolen in London get yourself down to Brick Lane the following weekend. P.S One tactic the police are now using is to stop those that have bought the bikes, so don’t buy stolen...
11 Brompton bicycles recovered in London
Officers from Harrow’s Safer Transport Team executed a warrant on Tuesday 16 October at an address in Stanmore and recovered 11 Brompton bicycles believed to be stolen. Two men aged 25 and 24 were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and have been bailed to return on a date in November. Police are appealing to anyone who has recently had a Brompton bicycle stolen in the hope that they can reunite these bicycles with their rightful owners. Please contact Sergeant McCarthy of Harrow’s Safer Transport team by email at...
Huge Haul of 100 Stolen Bikes Recovered
Police in the New Forest have recovered more than 100 suspected stolen bikes as part of a crackdown on bike theft in the New Forest. Since September at least 50 bikes have been reported as stolen across the Lymington, Brockenhurst and New Milton areas worth at least £15,000. The number of thefts has been running at around twice the level of the same time last year. The cycles have been taken from all sorts of locations including people’s drives, apartment storage areas and locked public cycle racks Local officers along with colleagues from British Transport Police have been investigating the thefts and have recently made five arrests in connection with the thefts. They also made the discovery of the hoard of bikes. They are now in the process of contacting all victims of cycle theft in the area since April this year offering them the opportunity to view the bikes seized and see if one belongs to them. PC Ian Cross from the Lymington Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “If anyone in the area has been the victim of a theft and not reported this to the police we urge them to contact us, even if your bike was low in value or your insurance company have paid out already your evidence could be the vital.” “It is notable that almost every single cycle stolen in this series of thefts was secured using a chain or cable lock. These will stop the opportunist thief but a good quality D-Lock secured around the frame is by far the best deterrent to a determined criminal. Of the five arrested three men aged,...Read more“There are serial numbers for most bikes therefore if any potential victim could have their serial numbers to hand when they contact us.”
Read morePolice in Edinburgh have arrested and charged four people in connection with 50 break-ins to garden sheds in the west of the Capital.