Advice after bike thefts spree

North Yorkshire Police have issued advice on how to keep bicycles safe following a spree of bike thefts in Malton.

Officers have also offered tips on how to get your bicycle back if it is stolen.

They said the first thing to do to prevent thieves taking the bicycle is to double lock it. Thieves are unlikely to carry multiple tools, so having two different types of locks will make it harder for them.

Ensure you lock the bike as close to the stand as possible which will make sure thieves have little to no room to manoeuvre their tools.

Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking, or in a well lit area which is covered by CCTV.

Make sure to register your frame number for free on a cycle database. The frame number is usually found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in.

If your bike is ever stolen and recovered by the police, it can be traced back to you.

Getting your bike security marked is a highly effective, visible deterrent.

BikeRegister provides a list of police bike marking events.

People can also mark their bike with SmartWater.

Avoid advertising that you have a bike at home, for example, by removing car roof racks, and creating ‘privacy zones’ on apps such as Strava to avoid disclosing your location.

If your bike has been stolen, contact the police as soon as possible by calling 101. Give them your frame number, cycle database number, a photo and any other details.