Officers from Avon and Somerset Police are holding a free bicycle marking and burglary prevention event in Bath tomorrow, Friday 31st January, at Green Park Station.
Working in partnership with BikeRegister, the event, between 10am and 3pm, is part of an ongoing police campaign to reduce the number of bicycle thefts across Avon and Somerset.
Officers will be on hand to help bicycle owners register their bikes on the BikeRegister database and discreetly security mark their bikes.
The BikeRegister database is used by every police force in the UK and enables officers to quickly and easily identify the original owner of any stolen or recovered bicycles.
People who have their bike marked will also be given an exclusive discount voucher to purchase an approved D-lock.
Bicycle thefts account for 2% of all police recorded crime across England and Wales, and 50% of all bicycle owners have had a bike stolen.
Avon and Somerset Police first started the bike marking security scheme last year and have significantly grown its operation force-wide. With over 4,000 bikes marked in the past year, Avon and Somerset Police is the most proactive police force in the country using the BikeRegister scheme.
Since the start of the BikeRegister scheme, there have been a number of recovered bikes being returned to their original owners.
These bike marking events are being supported by Operation Remedy as just one of a number of proactive initiatives being rolled out across Avon and Somerset to tackle residential burglary.
Detective Inspector Martyn Cannon of Operation Remedy and Force Lead for burglary, commented: “We take burglary very seriously and are continuing to work hard to reduce the number of burglaries across Avon and Somerset.
“We know bicycles are one of the most commonly stolen items and these events are a fantastic opportunity for local residents to go along and hear from officers about the latest burglary prevention advice whilst having their bikes marked and registered online for free.
“Bike marking not only acts as an excellent deterrent against thieves but also makes it much easier for police officers to identify the original owners and return their stolen bicycles.”
As part of the scheme, Avon and Somerset Police has provided the following crime prevention advice:
- Get your bikes security marked and registered at BikeRegister.
- When marking your bikes, ensure you mark individual parts and not just the frame (e.g. gears, saddle stem) as often stolen bikes are broken down to avoid detection.
- Record the details of your bicycles including noting the frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in), the BikeRegister number plus any other distinguishing features, and take a photo.
- Where possible, securely store your bicycles in your home.
- If this isn’t possible, ensure they are kept in a secure outbuilding such as an alarmed shed or garage with a Sold Secure approved lock.
- Always lock your bicycles to something immovable like a wall, the floor or a railing.
- Double lock your bikes using two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-Lock ideally secured to a ground anchor.
- When attempting to sell your bicycles online, never share your bank details, address or movements, particularly if you are away from home or on holiday for a considerable period of time.
- When arranging to meet with a prospective buyer meet in a neutral location, ideally a car park with CCTV or a public location where others are present.
- When attempting to buy a second-hand bike, always check to see if has been reported as stolen by entering the bike’s details on the free online BikeChecker facility. Handling stolen goods is a crime and can result in you having the bike confiscated and the money you paid for it not being returned.
