The following advice has been sent out by Derbyshire police to help avoid cycle theft.<\/p>\n
Officers are encouraging residents to keep their bicycles <\/strong>secure to prevent being targeted by criminals. This can be accomplished by following the advice below.<\/strong> 2. Make your mark<\/strong> 3. Record and Register<\/strong> 4. Insure it<\/strong> 5. When out and about<\/strong> If you use an app that tracks your progress enable privacy settings so that your house is not identified.<\/p>\n 6. At home<\/strong> 7. Buying a second hand bike<\/strong><\/p>\n Things to consider when you are buying a second hand bike:<\/p>\n 8. Checking to see if the bike is stolen<\/strong> 9. If your bike has been stolen<\/strong> Approved and tested Bike security products and other items can be found at http:\/\/www.securedbydesign.com\/<\/a>\u00a0 and http:\/\/www.soldsecure.com\/<\/a>. Secured by design is an ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) approved group that provide information about crime reduction and prevention. Other crime prevention advice can be found at www.thecrimepreventionwebsite.com.<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n1. Get a quality lock (pay 10% of the price of the bike) <\/strong>
\nExpect to pay at least \u00a340 for a lock, Make sure you buy a certified Sold Secure lock. www.soldsecure.com<\/a> these are tested to withstand attack. Gold cycle secure is the highest cycle security standard. Higher grade security can be achieved by buying a gold standard motorbike lock.<\/p>\n
\nMarking your bike with a unique code ensures that the police will be able to trace your bike back to you if it is stolen and recovered.\u00a0 There are several companies who offer bike marking products and these can be found on the internet.\u00a0 You could also use a UV pen or Smartwater.<\/p>\n
\nKeep a record of the frame number, the make\/model and any other marks that can identify your bike Also, take a photograph of the bike and write a description, so you can describe it accurately if it does get stolen. Register your bike for free<\/strong> at www.bikeregister.com<\/a>. You can download a Bike Logbook which allows you to put all the details stated above so you can give this to the police to help track your bike down.<\/p>\n
\nCheck whether your home contents insurance covers your bike. Make sure it covers you for thefts outside the home too. If your bicycle is particularly valuable you may need to insure it separately.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Park your bike in a well-lit area, where it can be easily seen by passers-by.
\n\u2022 Lock both wheels and the frame of your bike to a cycle stand or other immoveable object. (Make sure the locks go through the bike frame as well as both wheels and the post you are securing it to. Also, make sure it isn\u2019t possible to cut through the post, or for the bike to be lifted up over the top of it).
\n\u2022 Take any removable items with you such as wheels, lights, baskets and saddle.<\/p>\n
\nMore than half of bikes are stolen from home. Reduce the chances of this happening by storing your bike in a locked shed or garage. You can view products that have been tested to resist attack at www.soldsecure.com<\/a>. More advice about home security can be found at www.thecrimepreventionwebsite.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\nMembers of the public can check whether a bike has been stolen by clicking the following link https:\/\/www.bikeregister.com\/bike-checker<\/a> and inputting the frame number, QR code number or the unique bike register number. Anyone can scan a QR code on the bike to establish if it is stolen or call 0800 587 4739 during office hours.<\/p>\n
\nCall 101 and report it to the police, update its status on Bike Register. Give the police the details of the bike you have recorded. Over the forthcoming weeks please view websites such as Ebay, Gumtree, Preloved etc. or any other sale sites, as your bike may come up for sale. If you believe that you have found your bike for sale please contact the police on 101.<\/p>\n