A stolen bicycle has been returned to its owner after the thief was tackled to the ground by police officers in Northampton town centre.

Police officers were alerted to a man with bolt croppers near The Drapery in Northampton town centre on August 19th.

CCTV operators watched him cut the chain to a bicycle in the area and make off with it.

Officers deployed to the scene and tackled the thief – 29-year-old John Patrick Lavelle, previously of Blisworth Close, Northampton, to the ground, recovering the bicycle.

Lavelle was later charged with theft and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on August 20th.

Thankfully, the bike owner – Gary, had registered his bicycle on Bike Register – the national bike marking website which allows police to check a central database and locate the rightful owner of a stolen bike.

Dave Stimpson from the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This was a great result and I am really pleased we were able to quickly return Gary’s bike to him.

“Some great work by the local policing team ensured a swift deployment and subsequent arrest of the thief at the scene. Thanks to the owner using BikeRegister, his bike was speedily returned to him. A new D lock has also been presented to him free of charge.

“If bike owners can take anything away from this story, it’s that ensuring you think about crime prevention. Always lock your bike, keep a record of the frame number and other identifying features, and get your bike marked at one of our Bike Marking Events. If it is stolen, it’s easier for us to return it to you.

"Register your bicycle at http://www.bikeregister.com – it’s quick, easy and protects your bike from theft."

For further information and images contact: Jodie Fisher, Marketing Executive for Selectamark.

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