Bike marking deters thefts

FREE bicycle security kits could be offered to cyclists in Runcorn and Widnes.

Cheshire police have bought more than £3,600 worth of the kits after securing funding.

Each pack provides cyclists with a unique identification number which will allow a bike to be returned to its rightful owner if it is stolen and recovered by the police.

The number is applied to the bike either by using a permanent dye or a sticker to the framework and registered on a national database which can be searched by all forces across the country.

A total of 1,500 kits will be offered to mark the second anniversary of Shield, the force’s crime prevention brand.

Superintendent Peter Crowcroft said: “It’s great news we have been able to secure a significant amount of bike marking kits to give to cyclists to help protect their bikes from opportunistic thieves.

“The kits are an excel- lent way to make it difficult for thieves to sell the bikes on, enabling officers to identify the owners of the stolen property so it can be returned to them.

“Seeing a bike has been property marked can also make it a less attractive target for thieves.

“I would encourage cyclists to collect one of the kits and speak to officers where they will be given lots of helpful tips and advice.”

The funding for the bike marking kits was obtained from the Police Property Act fund.

It includes cash generated through the sale of property which has come into the police’s possession and the owner cannot be identified or a court order has been made.

Shield provides advice to residents and raise sawareness of how crime can be prevented.

Bike marking kits will be available at events across Cheshire.

To find out when the next bike marking event is, residents are being asked to keep an eye on the various local policing unit social media accounts.

PCSOs will also be issuing some of the kits at their regular surgeries.