More than 100 bikes stolen in county every month - here’s how you can keep yours safe
ABOUT THREE A DAY ARE RIDDEN OFF BY THIEVES, POLICE REVEAL
When you park your bike in public, choose a secure, well-lit area which is covered by CCTV
MORE than 1,300 bikes were stolen across Leicestershire in the space of 12 months – meaning three bikes were taken a day on average.
Police street crime data confirmed that there were 1,302 bike thefts between February 2020 and February 2021, the most happening in February 2020 with 143, a month before the coronavirus lockdown.
Since the beginning of lockdown, October 2020 came closest to the same figures, with 140 bikes stolen in the space of one month.
But despite lockdown, on average, there remained just over 100 bikes being stolen each month, which equals just roughly three bikes every day.
There is no direct clarification for why bike thefts are so common in the county, with police informing us that there is no particular reason or trend they can see as to why they happen.
However, to combat bike theft, Leicestershire Police said that Neighbourhood Policing Areas regularly hold bike marking events which can help keep bikes secure and also makes them easy to identify if they are stolen.
They also have a list of ways you can keep you bicycle safe from theft, and what to do if someone steals it.
Register it
Leicestershire Police recommend that you get your bike security marked and registered online at BikeRegister.
The website offers a number of ways to secure your bike, including a QR code sticker which immediately identifies your bike, an ID code etching directly onto your bike, or a UV ID code and uniquely numbered microdots.
The ID codes also come with a sticker that immediately informs would-be thieves that the bike is registered and, if they are caught with it, they will be arrested.
Record it
Police recommend that you record all identifying features of your bike, such as the frame number – which can be found underneath the bike by the pedals or where the rear wheel slots in – as well as the BikeRegister number and distinguishing features such as colour or branding.
You are also advised to take a photo of the bike.
Double-lock it
It is recommended to use two locks, as opposed to just one.
It can take thieves a couple of seconds to cut through some locks, so police recommended two good locks, with one of them a d-lock.
Lock everything up
When you have your two locks, you should ensure that both wheels and the frame of the bike are locked up to a public cycling stand.
This will ensure that potential thieves cannot remove some of the bike, such as the frame and the back wheel, leaving behind one wheel attached to the stand.
Secure your bike when locking it up
Another tip is to ensure your bike is as close to the bike stand as possible. This ensures that you give thieves little to no room for them to manoeuvre – adding extra security to your bike.
Remove any detachable parts
Police recommend that you take any parts with you that can be easily removable to avoid them being stolen. Another option is to secure them by using locking skewers or nuts and attaching them to the bike permanently – this will make it very difficult for thieves to steal the detachable parts on your bike.
Park your bike in a secure location
It is recommended that, when you park your bike in public, you choose a secure, well-lit area which is covered by CCTV.
The police also shared a link to secure bike parking locations in Leicester according to Leicester City Council, which includes the bike park at the town hall, as well as Leicester Railway Station.
Keep your bike secure at home When it comes to keeping your bike secure at home, police recommend that you take as much thought into keeping your bike safe as you do when leaving it out in public.
This includes locking up your bike effectively in a good, secure location – and not simply presuming your bike will be more safe at home.
When buying a bike - check the ownership
If you are buying a preowned bike, you can check whether they are the owner using the BikeChecker page on the BikeRegister website.
This will confirm whether the owner knows about the ID code, as well as being able to see if they own the bike or whether it has been reported as stolen – stopping you from accidentally buying a stolen bike.
What to do if your bike is stolen
The police also offer some good tips on what to do if your bike is stolen.
First of all, you should act fast. You should contact the police as soon as possible, either via their non-emergency 101 number or reporting a crime online.
When you report it, you should give the police as much information as possible, including your frame number, the BikeRegister ID code, a photo of the bike, as well as any other details which may identify your bike to officers.
You should also update the status of your bike on BikeRegister, so anyone who may be looking to buy the bike can see that it’s stolen.
The sooner the police know about it, the sooner they can act which might help stop the bike from being sold on.
Stolen Bikes of the UK is a website dedicated to listing and spreading the word about your stolen bike.
Find That Bike lists adverts for bikes put on public marketplaces, meaning you can check it frequently to see if yours has been listed for sale. Adverts are usually placed within 24 hours of the theft.