Kentish Express Ashford & District
School among targets as thieves steal 37 bicycles
A leisure centre, a school and private garages have all been targeted by bike thieves in Ashford.
Over the last five weeks, police have received reports of 37 stolen bicycles, the majority from the town centre.
This includes seven from outside the Stour Centre, in Tannery Lane, two from the grounds of Victoria Road Primary School, in Victoria Road, and a significant number from the communal areas of social housing complexes.
Others were taken from outside shops while the owners were inside, several from people’s gardens, sheds and garages, and some that had been left chained to railings in the town.
Simon Way, head of Victoria Road Primary, said two bikes were taken from the school on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 14.
He said: “A Year 6 pupil’s bike was taken at about 2pm from the bike shed in the play area.
“The person scaled the fence, which is about eight or nine feet high.
“They then came back about 40 minutes later and took a member of staff’s bike, which was padlocked.
“They must have brought a tool with them.
“We caught them on our CCTV. They were wearing hoodies. It is disappointing.
“We’ve moved the bikes temporarily so they’re not in the playground, and we’re reviewing what we can do in the long- term to make them more secure.”
Despite the high number of thefts, police say they are not linking the crimes at this stage.
However, they did note that most bikes were taken on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday evenings.
A police spokesman said: “Bike thefts do not tend to lead to property being damaged. None of the 37 reports related to a house being broken into.
“Our analysis shows that more cycles are stolen between 5pm and 6pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings and between 6pm and 7pm on Sundays.”
Police also urge cyclists to increase their security by registering their bikes on Immobilise, which helps police reunite owners with stolen property when it is recovered, purchasing a good quality lock and securing bikes in locked buildings.