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Cyclists told: Lock them or lose them

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Cycle thefts in Leicester city centre have fallen sharply in the past year – and police have urged riders to help them continue the trend.

Officers are encouraging riders to take basic crime prevention measures – such as investing in a sturdy lock – to build on the progress they have made in the past year.

Between April last year and the end of March this year, the number of cycles stolen in the Castle ward – which includes the city centre, parts of the two university campuses and Clarendon Park – fell from about 620 in the previous year to 515.

The arrival of better weather will see more people using their bikes during the next few weeks and thieves will grasp the opportunity to take poorly- protected bikes, police believe.

City centre police commander Inspector Chris Cockerill said the downward trend had continued since the beginning of April.

He said: "We call some of the locks which we see people using to protect their bikes shoelaces – because they are that easy for thieves to cut through.

"A thief can go to a bike, bend down and cut through some of these chains in seconds.

"It's so fast, people walking past would have no idea what's happening.

"The message we are trying to get out is that people can protect their bikes by taking a few simple steps, starting with investing in a good D-lock.

"People will spend hundreds of pounds on their bikes and we are urging them to spend a proportionate amount on a lock which will make things much more difficult for the thieves.

"We have made a lot of progress dealing with cycle thefts in the city and we want to continue to make that progress, but we need the cyclists' help."

Police also advise cyclists to chain their bikes to cycle racks or other substantial fixtures in well-lit and busy areas, ideally those covered by CCTV.

Phil Parker's mountain bike was stolen in the city centre this year. The 25-year-old, from Aylestone, said: "The bike had cost me more than £300, but I only used a cheap lock.

"When I got back to the cycle rack I could tell how easily the thief had cut through the wire.

"I bought a D-lock for a tenner and I feel I can leave my bike safe and sound."

Police are also urging people to have their postcode etched on the frame.

Insp Cockerill said: "If we can't trace the owner of a bike we have recovered it just ends up in police storage."

Cycles can be left in secure storage for £1 a day at the Bike Park, in Town Hall Square.

Also, valuables, including bikes, can be registered on a free national database, which helps police return lost or stolen goods to their owners and also helps prosecute offenders.

www.immobilise.com

Cyclists told: Lock them or lose them


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