Like many universities cycle theft was a persistent challenge at Oxford Brookes University, with an average of approximately 300 bikes stolen annually, equating to about 25 per month. Campuses, student accommodation, and bike sheds were prime targets, yet reporting rates remained low, and students often had limited awareness of both the risks and possible solutions. This left the university facing property loss, safety concerns, and reputational risk -especially since Oxford is ranked third in the UK for cycle theft.

Leadership and Vision: Driving Change

Ahmed Mohamed, Deputy Security Manager at Oxford Brookes University, recognised that tackling cycle crime required more than reactive measures. His vision was clear: to create a theft-resistant campus through prevention, education, and engagement. He wanted to create a campus where students could feel safe leaving their bikes and foster a culture where crime prevention was part of everyday life, not just a temporary fix. That involved:

- Focusing on long-term cultural change rather than quick fixes

- Ensuring the campus security team was fully committed to embedding crime prevention into daily routines

Key Interventions: Making Theft Difficult

The security team at Oxford Brookes University developed a series of targeted, practical measures that transformed the campus’ security landscape:

- 30+ BikeRegister marking and registration events to help identify and protect bikes

- CCTV coverage across all bike shelters

- Strategic BikeRegister signage and warning banners in high-risk areas

- Reduced-price D-locks with guidance on correct use

- Warning labels on insecure bikes to educate owners

- These measures combined with visibility, deterrence and education is currently making cycle crime harder       and riskier for offenders at Oxford Brookes University.

Community Engagement: Collaboration is Key

Recognising that lasting change requires the whole campus to get involved, the team ran campaigns through student inductions, newsletters, and social media - alongside national initiatives like Bike Month and Road Safety Week. Between September 2024 and June 2025, they also held over 57 crime prevention events with Thames Valley Police, BikeRegister, local authorities, and other universities, building awareness, trust, and a shared sense of responsibility for campus safety.

Results & Impact: Transforming Campus Safety

The results were striking:

- 91% reduction in bike thefts, dropping from over 300 to around 25 per year

- Increased student confidence and cycling activity

- A model of best practice shared externally

- Reduced strain on police and campus security

- Embedded long-term cultural change across the campus community

Sustaining Momentum: The Future of Cycle Security

Oxford Brookes continues to push the boundaries of cycle security, applying for Crime Commissioner funding to expand interventions and piloting Clampit Smart Bike Locks, with eight installations planned by the end of 2025. Ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation support an ambitious long-term goal: a bike-theft-free campus.

The Oxford Brookes Security Team has shown that tackling crime takes vision, innovation, and collaboration. Their work proves that reducing cycle theft isn’t just about the numbers - it builds trust, boosts wellbeing, and creates a shared sense of safety across the university community, setting an example for campuses nationwide.

For further information and images contact: Victoria Clark, Marketing Executive for Selectamark.

Phone: +44 (0)1689 487829
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @bikeregister