From a police perspective: Keep your bicycle secure

This month Sgt Lonsdale offers some hints and tips for keeping your bicycle safe from thieves.

There is nothing more annoying and inconvenient than having your property stolen, but there are several things you can do to make a bike thief’s life a little bit harder.

• If you haven’t done so already register your bicycle’s frame number, along with any pictures and other details you have on www. immobilise.com. (Registration on Immobilise only takes a few minutes and it’s free. All you need is your bike’s make, model, identifying number code(s) and a few photographs). If your bike is stolen or lost this free online register will inform all UK police and registered second-hand dealers that your bike is missing. Should it be offered for sale to a registered dealer or come into contact with any police force, then a check of the system could reunite you with your stolen or lost bike.

• Invest in a quality lock, such as a D lock, and consider using two different types at the same time, as thieves rarely carry tools to break two different lock types.

• Lock your bike every time you leave it! Keep the gap between the bike and the lock small, so inserting tools is made harder, and where possible, keep the locking barrel facing the ground too as this makes access more difficult.

• Look at where you are storing your bike and make sure that your shed or garage is secured with a good quality lock. Consider putting an alarm on the shed or connect it to the house alarm if you have one.

• Consider buying a cycle anchor that can be bolted to the wall or floor of your shed. Your cycle can then be fastened to it, or if you have several cycles lock them altogether.

• If you have to leave your bike out on the street, where possible leave it in a well-lit area and lock both the frame and wheels to the bike stand or to secure street furniture.

Meet your officers
PCSO Katie Hart will be at the Moorlands Centre, Old Goole, to discuss community issues and offer crime prevention advice on 3rd August, 10am-12noon.