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Police Scotland launch anti-bike theft campaign

'No matter what you paid for it, the feeling you get when your bike is stolen is the same'...

Police Scotland has launched an 'anti-bike theft' campaign which has been supported by round the world cyclist Mark Beaumont. 

The force say the initiative is in response to the 'rising number' of bicycle thefts across the country. 

Over 4,900 reports of stolen cycles were made across Scotland in February this year – a rise of 18 per cent from the previous year.

The ‘Pedal Protect’ campaign, supported by the British Transport Police, was officially launched by Police Scotland on, Friday March, 26, The Scotsman reports.

The launch of Pedal Protect took place at Fettes Police Station in Edinburgh, where officers highlighted the significant number of lost and stolen bikes that come into police possession on a weekly basis.

Supporting the Pedal Protect campaign is record-breaking endurance cyclist, Mark Beaumont.

Beaumont, 38, is a Scottish long-distance cyclist, broadcaster and author.

He currently holds the record for cycling round the world, completing his 18,000-mile (29,000 km) route on 18 September 2017, in less than 79 days. 

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, he said: “A bike can cost anything from a couple of hundred pounds, to several thousand pounds, but no matter what you pay, the feeling you get when your bike is stolen is the same.

“It’s devastating when a valued possession is taken from you and that’s why it’s so important to make sure you take all the necessary steps to keep your own bike safe.

“I’m really happy that Police Scotland has launched Pedal Protect, because not only are they taking the investigation of any stolen bike seriously, but are working hard to educate the public on how to safeguard their bikes. 

“Having been the victim of a bike theft myself, I know how much distress it causes and that’s why I would urge all cyclists to consider the security they currently have in place for their bikes and ask themselves, are these measures sufficient?"

In order to improve bike security across the country, Police Scotland will be hosting a range of bike marking events and will publicise these on their social media channels.

In addition, many bike retailers across the country have now agreed to provide Pedal Protect and Bike Register security information leaflets to customers who purchase a new bike.

Local policing teams will also continue to gather intelligence on bike thefts taking place in their communities, and carry out appropriate enforcement action when required.

The public are being asked to come forward with any information relating to the theft of bikes within their communities.

Detective Superintendent Matt Paden, Police Scotland acquisitive crime lead, said: “We have launched Pedal Protect because we will be conducting a range of intelligence-led activity to return stolen bikes to their rightful owners, but also to encourage all of those who currently own, or who are considering buying a bike, to invest in appropriate security.

“I would also urge anyone who has had a bike lost or stolen to regularly check in with their local policing division and provide all relevant details so we can return as many recovered bikes as possible, often cycles are recovered but no one comes forward to claim them”

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2 comments

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Sriracha | 3 years ago
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Quote:

also to encourage all of those who currently own, or who are considering buying a bike, to invest in appropriate security

What is "appropriate security", in the face of cordless angle grinders and thieves brazen enough to use them in broad daylight outside a Magistrates Court?

Cyclists, for the most part, are doing their bit, already weighed down with heavyweight D-locks and paid-up registrations. The only thing that will deter thieves is a racing certainty that they will be caught and that the punishment will cost them dearly in whatever terms they value.

The Police's conversation needs to be with the thieves, not the cyclists.

Avatar
Tired of the tr... | 3 years ago
0 likes

"In order to improve bike security across the country, Police Scotland will be hosting a range of bike marking events ..."

That's going to solve the problem...

This is all as helpful to the bike theft problem as the handing out hivis jackets is to the road safety problem. Great for photo opportunities but it's not going to make much difference. Most people I know have registered their bike already.

I never understood the police bike marking events anyway. Everybody can just register their bike themselves, so why do officers have to waste time with it?

My bike was registered but it didn't stop it from getting stolen, and it was never recovered either.

"The public are being asked to come forward with any information relating to the theft of bikes within their communities."

What a brilliant idea.

Is that really all they can think of?

 

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