Operation Warlock Spells Warning For Bike Thieves
25 Oct 2012A crackdown on bike crime has seen police in Peterborough patrolling hotspots to check for thieves and officers marking bikes with BikeRegister after a 50 per cent rise in thefts in the city centre.
Operation Warlock involves the deployment of plain clothes and uniformed officers increasing patrols in areas known to attract thieves. Bikes with tracking devices are also being laid as traps to lure out criminals.
Meanwhile, owners are being asked to take precautions to avoid becoming victims and events have been arranged by the Safer Peterborough Partnership to encourage cycle awareness. Along with bike marking using BikeRegister, the road safety team is available to offer advice on staying safe and being seen during the winter months.
Sergeant Jo Reeves, who is leading Op Warlock, said: “Thieves see bikes as an easy target that they can sell on for cash, either on the street or online, but I would warn them that their crimes could land them in jail.
“We are committed to reducing cycle theft and using all the tactics available to us to bring those responsible to justice. We have already made some significant arrests but alongside our enforcement work we also need cyclists to take security seriously.”
In the six months from April to the end of September this year, there were 181 bike thefts in Peterborough city centre. In the same six months the previous year, there were 116 - a rise of 56 per cent.
Areas outside the city centre affected include Bretton and Westwood, particularly around Peterborough City Hospital and Sainsbury’s at the Bretton Centre. Many of the bikes stolen in these areas had been left unlocked.
Councillor Irene Walsh, Cabinet Member of Community Cohesion and Safety for Peterborough City Council, concluded: “Cycling is a great way to get around the city. It is economical and a great source of exercise. Unfortunately, bike can also be attractive to thieves.
“Getting your bike marked is a quick and easy way of making it more secure. A marked bike will be less attractive to thieves as it will be harder to sell on and can be easily traced back to you when the police recover it.”
For more information and images: Angela Singleton, Selectamark Press Officer. Mobile: +44 (0)7905 623 819. Email:[email protected]
For further information and images contact: Jodie Fisher, Marketing Executive for Selectamark.
Phone: +44 (0)1689 487829
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @bikeregister
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