Stolen bikes

Another Met Police press release:

**STC CRACK DOWN ON CYCLE CRIME **

**As the spring season gets under way, ****the  Metropolitan Police Service’s Safer Transport Command funded by  Transport for London is continuing its campaign to crack down on cycle  theft in the capital. **  

The Safer Transport Command is working with UK independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, to encourage Londoners to anonymously give any information they might have about those involved in the theft, handling and selling of stolen bikes on 0800 555 111.

Bike theft costs London over £10m per year and Safer Transport Teams are out and about putting up bespoke Crimestoppers posters up at public locations such as second hand cycle shops where they are most likely to be seen by those who have information. Police officers will also be engaging with the public to encourage not just reporting but cycle marking and improving cycle security.

With over 300 arrests since 2010, the Safer Transport Command is a world class leader in tackling cycle theft and providing cycle security through its Cycle Task Force and Safer Transport Teams. However the addition of Crimestoppers’ anonymous information giving service will further assist them in gaining more valuable intelligence on those involved in cycle theft.

The campaign hopes to specifically gather more detailed information about London’s prolific cycle thieves – who are estimated to be stealing hundreds of bikes each year, and making significant financial gains in their life of crime.

Any information received anonymously by Crimestoppers will be passed to Safer Transport Teams to carry out investigations and operations against those involved in cycle theft and attempt the return of stolen property to rightful owners.

Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, Safer Transport Command said:
“I urge anyone who has information about who is handling or selling stolen bikes to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“Thousands of bikes stolen in the capital each year are sold on to unsuspecting members of the public who buy them in good faith.

“We want to ensure the best chances of bringing the offenders to justice, restoring stolen bikes to their rightful owners and prevent anybody buying stolen property.

Crimestoppers’ London Campaigns Manager, Regan Hook, said:
“At Crimestoppers we take all crimes seriously and work hard to empower members of the public to stand up to crime safely by passing information on to us without saying who they are.

“Cycle theft affects many individuals across the capital, not only costing victims financially but also causing great inconvenience to commuters unable to use their preferred transport travel to and from work.

“We are urging Londoners to give us information anonymously about crime via 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Your anonymity is guaranteed.”

Keep your bike secure
Around 20,000 bikes are reported stolen in London each year. Thieves think cycle theft is a low-risk, high-reward crime. Follow these tips to lock thieves out and ensure your bike remains safe and secure.

**1. Get your bike security marked and registered at **BikeRegister.
Getting your bike security marked and registered is a visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught in possession of a registered bike, the rightful owner can be traced and they will be arrested. Find out if your local Met Police Safer Transport Team has any marking events planned: www.met.police.uk/transport/the_teams
**

1. Record details of your bike**
   Frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in), BikeRegister number, other distinguishing features, and take a photo.
   **
   
2. Use locks of gold 'Sold Secure' standard**
   Also, use two different types of lock, with at least one being a high quality D-lock. It takes thieves a few seconds to cut through poor quality locks - make it as difficult for them as possible.
   **
   
3. Lock the frame and both wheels to the cycle parking stand**
   **
   
4. Make the locks and bike hard to manoeuvre**
   Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible.
   **
   
5. Take parts that are easy to remove with you**
   For example, saddles and wheels. Or use secure skewers, which can increase security by securing the bike's components to the frame permanently, making it difficult for thieves to steal parts such as saddle or wheels.
   **
   
6. Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking**
   It should be well lit and covered by CCTV.
   **
   
7. Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home**
   Bikes get stolen from communal hallways, gardens and sheds.
   **
   
8. Don't buy a stolen second-hand bike**
   Insist on proof of ownership and check the bike frame number at: www.bikeregister.com
   
   

10. If your bike has been stolen, contact the police
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-Ends-**
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Notes to editor: **

[*]Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Around 20 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.
[]The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), British Transport Police (BTP), City of London Police (CoLP) and Transport for London (TfL) are working together in an initiative Project Cycle Ops to crack down on cycle theft in the Capital.
[]Officers and staff from these agencies are working together to tackle cycle theft through various initiatives including bike marking and registration events, engaging with cyclists, high-visibility patrols, surveillance, intelligence-led operations and covert policing tactics.
[]The MPS Cycle Task Force, funded by TfL, is a team of officers who are dedicated to tackling cycle theft and improve cycle security and safety pan-London.
[]The team work alongside the local Safer Transport and Safer Neighbourhood Teams (STTs and SNTs), who also tackle cycle theft locally.
[]The Cycle Task Force, STTs and SNTs run sessions on bike marking and registration and give London’s cyclists advice on how to lock up their bikes securely in order to deter cycle theft. Pan-London events can be found http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Cycle-marking-events/1400005859885/1400005859885. For information on local marking events visit your local Safer Transport Team website - www.met.police.uk/transport/the_teams.html
[]Registering your bike helps police and retailers identify and verify the legitimate owner of bikes that have been stolen or are being resold. A visible security marking on your bike deters potential thieves as your bike can be easily traced if it is stolen.
[]The MPS have selected BikeRegister* as the preferred cycle register for London
[]The Cycle Task Force and STTs form part of the MPS Safer Transport Command team;
[]Since June 2010, the MPS have registered over 60000 bikes on BikeRegister.com. Over 36000 of these were cycle security marked and registered by the Cycle Task Force.The Cycle Task Force is a dedicated unit to tackle cycle theft and improve cycle security and safety pan-London.
[]Since June 2010 the Cycle Task Force have made over 320 arrests and reunited many Londoners with their stolen bikes.
[]The Cycle Task Force work with the Payback Unit using Proceeds of Crime Act to deprive criminals of their assets gained through cycle crime.
[]The Cycle Security Plan produced by TfL, the MPS, BTP, and CoLP sets out what we have done, and plan to do, to prevent and deter cycle theft and criminal damage.
[]In October 2011, the MPS and TfL beat worldwide and won the prestigious 2011 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. Their problem-solving approach to reducing cycle theft in London was chosen as the winner from sixty one submissions. And a key element to the problem solving approach for cycle theft reduction was the introduction of the TfL funded Cycle Task Force.
[]Members of the public can contact the Cycle Task Force by e-mailing them on CycleTaskForce@met.police.uk;
[]As part of the continuing campaign against cycle theft and the sale of stolen bikes, TfL and the MPS Safer Transport Command have produced a video that advises cyclists on how to protect your bike, available at www.youtube.com/metpoliceservice.