A bike insurance group has revealed that bike theft is a major worry for police this Christmas and New Year in Scarborough.

Therefore, in an attempt to cut down on bike thefts this holiday period, police have launched a yearly crime prevention programme in the region’s town centre.

Scarborough Police have joined forces with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Anti-Theft Group to operate the initiative, which seeks to reduce crime rates.

“We are advising shoppers to ensure they lock their vehicles when parking up, hiding all shopping and other valuables away in the boot, so that nothing is on display to entice thieves,” Sgt Diane Jobling stated.

She added: “Many children will be getting a new bicycle for Christmas, so we will be selling the immobitags at the drastically reduced rate of £5 so their bike can be safeguarded immediately.”

According to officers, typical crimes that are committed over the Christmas period are theft from shops, theft from people and anti social behaviour.

Cyclists interested in additional steps to boost the security of their bicycles may want to consider taking out bike cover, insurers have advised.

Bike thief caught

In similar news, it has been revealed that a man has been found guilty for a string of bike thefts in the Chiswick area.

The individual from Hampsted, was pulled in for questioning when he was spotted by the Turnham Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team riding a stolen bike. When the police searched his flat, they found cycle parts and a number of stolen bikes.

He was also linked to various online advertisements for second-hand bicycles, which were later found by officers to have been stolen from burglaries. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court.

PS Ben Clark said: “We will continue to target cycle thieves in Chiswick, and we will endeavour to prosecute those who trade in stolen goods. It is worth noting that the cycles we were able to return to their rightful owners quickly were all registered on Immobilise.

“By registering your cycle, we are able to get it back to you and it helps us to prosecute criminals, as it can help prove that the goods were stolen and not bought legitimately.”

Bike theft victim left ‘gutted’

It has been revealed that a teen from Calne has been left devastated by the theft of his £1,500 mountain bike. The cycle was taken from the town centre.

The 16-year-old boy had padlocked the bike outside a bank during the afternoon on November 5th, whilst he travelled to Chippenham.

He stated: “I was gone for about 50 minutes and when I got back I found the bike had been stolen, along with the lock. I don’t know how they unlocked it, but I was just gutted when I found out.

“Hopefully I can get some insurance money otherwise I guess I am going to have to try and save up again so I can afford another bike.”

The bike’s make is Specialized and the model is an Epic. PC Hans Monahan said: “The bike is quite distinctive in that it is a dark colour but it has white forks. Officers believe it may have been sold off in the Calne or Devizes area.”