Bicycle Watch – Protect your cycle
North Wales Police and local Community Safety Partnerships have joined forces with ‘BikeRegister’ to start a new Bicycle Watch scheme to help reduce thefts and identify stolen cycles within north
‘BikeRegister’ is the
The scheme is facilitated by Selectamark, a world leader in security products, and it’s free to join. For an additional cost, buyers can choose to upgrade their choice of protection – Bronze, Silver or Gold. Each category offers a different level of protection.
Over the last few months police have seen a steady increase in the number of bicycle thefts throughout north
PC Hazel Goss MBE, from the North Wales Police Community Safety Team, said: “Bicycle theft has increased in north
“We hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity to register their bicycles. Once registered, owners can go onto the BikeRegister website with their unique password and communicate with others. A search facility for stolen bikes and so much more is also available.
“If you upgrade to bronze you will receive free registration and a QR barcode label, the silver level includes free registration and a permanent forensic marking stencil kit and gold members will receive all the benefits of silver plus a data tagging system for their bikes, offering reassurance and better protection against theft.”
She added: “By registering with this scheme, you help reduce the chances of your bicycle being stolen, but increase the chances of it being recovered.”
James Brown, Sales Director, BikeRegister said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with North Wales Police on this exciting initiative.
“Other schemes across the
He added: “Our aim here is to help the police drive down the recent spike in cycle theft and help officers reunite recovered or stolen bikes with their rightful owners.”
Many bicycles are stolen because they are poorly secured, or not secured at all. Help to protect your bicycle by following these guidelines:
- Know your bike’s identity – write down the name, model and frame number in case you need to report this to the police
- Photograph your bike – keep photographs and make note of any security markings or distinctive features
- Security mark your bike – marking the frame takes seconds and it is a major deterrent for thieves
- Register your bike – this means if stolen, your bike can be traced from anywhere in the
- Always mark your accessories such as lights, helmets, quick-release wheels and seats
- Don’t leave your bike in isolated places
- Always lock your bike when you leave it, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Secure the bike to a proper stand or robust street furniture
- Lock your bike through the frame and not the wheels. Secure or remove the wheels
- It is always best to use two locks. Go for different types, for example, a strong D-lock and a sturdy chain lock. This means that a thief will need different tools to break each lock, making theft less likely
- Remove smaller parts and accessories which cannot be secured – such as lights, pumps and quick-release saddles.
To register, log onto the BikeRegister website www.bikeregister.com
