Sponsored by
Even transport cop has had his bike nicked
AS police unveiled a new hi-tech weapon in their fight against bike crime, it was revealed even they aren't immune – with two cycles stolen from outside their station.
AS police unveiled a new hi-tech weapon in their fight against bike crime, it was revealed even they aren't immune – with two cycles stolen from outside their station.The unfortunate officer's bike was targeted by thieves, who then went on to take the replacement.
And new figures showed more than three cycles are stolen from outside Peterborough train station every week.
In a bid to make life difficult for would-be crooks, officers from British Transport Police have fitted 116 commuters' bikes with electronic tags – the first time they have been used in the city.
The tags, which work in a similar way to microchips for cats and dogs, allow officers to quickly identify stolen bikes which have been recovered.
And a prominent sticker showing the cycle has been tagged acts as a deterrent to crooks.
With crooks wheeling away with 165 bikes from the railway station in the 12 months leading up to June, the scheme couldn't come at a better time.
The electronic tag is inserted into the frame of the bike and can't be removed.
Each tag can be read by portable readers, which are kept by the police.
It also has a unique serial number which is logged on an online national database.
Pc Chris Thompson-Chambers, who carried out the latest campaign on Monday and was a victim of bike thieves, said the new tool would stop bike thieves "getting away with it" because the owner of the cycle can't be traced.
"The tag itself comes into its own when we recover bicycles as we can immediately identify the owner using an electronic reader," he said.
"The frustrating situation from a police perspective and personal experience – because I have had my own bikes stolen – is that when we arrest individuals in possession of bikes and we recover bikes at houses, we cannot find out who owns them.
"As we have no victim, then we have no crime ."
He added: "I must have tagged about 60 per cent of the bikes secured at the station, and I have specifically focused on commuters, as their bikes are routinely left for prolonged periods and more likely to be targeted by thieves."
Officers also gave out leaflets with tips on securing bikes and discount vouchers for recommended bike locks.
Pc Thompson-Chambers said there had been a rise in bike thefts during the recession.
Officers plan to return to the station every two months and continue the campaign.
He also urged people to secure cycles with two locks to make life difficult for would-be thieves.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.