WHEELS OF FORTUNE AND THE DOGS IN THE STREET

THERE are few better examples of the power of capitalism than in crime. Two strands of theft – to meet the market’s laws of supply and demand – are more prevalent in lockdown: that of bicycles and dogs. Many people, even with masks, are afraid of travelling by public transport and, despite the volume of vehicular traffic driven by humans with limited or no respect for the vulnerabilities of cyclists, are prepared to use bicycles as an alternative. Others see cycling as an enjoyable way of getting exercise. But demand exceeds supply. It is hard to get a new bike these days unless you are prepared to pay a hefty price or go on a waiting list that may last for months. Bike manufacturers are finding it hard to get parts to construct bikes, and social-distancing requirements have slowed manufacturing of the completed units, too.

There has been a mini-boom for mechanics who can repair long-disused bikes. There is one such service going door-to-door in my own area, offering repairs to get a bike back on the road or buying units for repair or resale.

But equally, there has been a mini-boom for bike thieves. While there is much comment, correctly, on the lack of safe cycling facilities, there is not nearly enough concentration on the lack of secure and monitored parking spaces for bikes. It is fine to say that cyclists have to take personal responsibility by buying two good locks to secure their bikes properly, but they need somewhere to use those locks properly too.

The personal responsibility also extends to not purchasing a cheap, second-hand bike, provenance unknown, that may have been stolen.

It is the same with dogs. Apparently, many people have turned to dogs for company during the lockdown but, as with bikes, can’t get them. According to Dogs Trust, prices for new puppies have risen four-fold, resulting in a growing trade in stolen dogs, both puppies and young adults, as criminals look to match supply to demand.

Whatever about buying a stolen bike, there should be a special place in Hell for someone who buys a dog stolen from some grieving loving family or individual, or that has been brought up in conditions of ill-health to turn a profit.