Security drive to combat thieves
Kent Police to hand out free locks as a first line of defence
‘It is the first event of this kind we’ve held’ SGT SEAN SCARSBROOK
Making sure your bike is properly locked is one of the key measures in stopping opportunist thieves from making off with it – which is why Kent Police are launching a scheme which will see them handing out 200 locks to riders in the county completely free of charge. Community Policing Team Sergeant Sean Scarsbrook told us: “The general perception is that the police are not interested in stolen bikes, but that is not the case. In an attempt to reduce the number of motorcycle thefts in our area, we are putting together a local day of action.
“As part of that we will be giving away locks to the first 200 people who turn up at the event on a motorcycle registered in their name and with a V5 logbook showing an address somewhere in Kent.” The Margate-based officer is hoping to team up with a manufacturer to have some machines on show, too. There will also be members of the force’s Motorcycle Team on hand to give bikers advice and guidance on machine maintenance, safety checks and advanced riding techniques. “Anyone is welcome and if this event proves successful we’d look to do something again, maybe next spring,” added Suzuki SV1000S-riding Sgt Scarsbrook. “Both the Kent Community Policing Team and our Motorcycle Team are proactive in locating and recovering stolen vehicles, but by doing events like this we hope we that can help prevent bikes being stolen in the first place.
“It’d be great to get a good turnout from the motorcycle community, no matter what size of bike people ride, and pull together in a bid to stop bikes getting stolen. It’s the first event of this kind we have done in the area, but hopefully it won’t be the last!”
The free session is being held on Ramsgate seafront – where there is plenty of parking – on Saturday, October 23.