More than 30 bike thefts in Salisbury over two months
Police are asking cyclists to be wary
Bike owners in Salisbury are being warned to take 'extra precautions' after a big rise in thefts across the city in recent weeks.
Officers say that since September, they've had at least 33 reports to them of bikes being stolen.
Those incidents have involved cycles left both securely and insecurely.
Wiltshire Police is putting out a series of tips for owners, to help keep themselves safe:
- Double lock it - officers say using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target
- Lock the lot - attach both the frame and the wheels to a secure cycle stand
- Secure it - get your bike as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre
- Take removable parts with you - remove wheels, lights, baskets or the saddle if you can, or use locking skewers or nuts which can increase security by securing the bike's components to the frame permanently
- Park securely - lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking, that's well lit and covered by CCTV
- Register it - register your frame number for free on a cycle database such as BikeRegister or immobilise.com - the frame number is usually found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in
- Mark it - get your bike security marked, as thieves know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested
- Safety begins at home - take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street
- Check ownership - ask for proof of ownership and check the bike frame number on a cycle database such as Bike Checker at BikeRegister
- Act fast - if your bike has been stolen, contact police as soon as possible by calling 101 or reporting online