4,500 Bikes Stolen In Avon And Somerset

14 June 2013, 12:35 | Updated: 14 June 2013, 13:02

Family on bikes

In 2012 4,500 bikes were stolen in the Avon and Somerset Police area. Now Officers are going out and about at main cycle routes, schools and colleges, bike shops and events throughout the Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and Somerset areas speaking to cyclists about keeping their bikes secure, riding safely and legally, as well as checking over any potentially stolen bikes.

More than 3,000 vinyl tags will be tied to bikes to encourage cyclists to visit 'Hal Grades Your Locks', a dedicated website where owners can find out if the locks they are using are up to scratch.

Chief Superintendent John Stratford, Bristol district commander, said:

"Last year, more than 4,500 bikes were reported stolen in Avon and Somerset, with particular hotspots in Bristol city centre, Taunton Eastgate, Downend, Staple Hill, Bradley Stoke, Winterbourne and Weston-super-Mare. We've done a lot of work over the past couple of years to educate both cyclists about the need to invest in decent locks that reflect the value of their bikes, and the public about the need to work with us by reporting crimes.
We've got a really strong cycling community in Bristol and our other towns – this week is about talking to as many cyclists as we can to get them to work with us to beat the bike thieves."

What's going on where you live:


Bristol – officers will be making use of five new bikes to patrol hotspots in the city centre, as well as tagging bikes.  Cyclists are invited to follow Sergeant Steve Bell on Twitter as he patrols the city centre on Thursday 20 and ask any bike security or safety questions. 

West Somerset – Neighbourhood Sergeant Tony Crowter and his team will be tagging bikes at Somerfest on June 15.  Tri UK, King's Cycles, Bicycle Chain, Ian's Cycle Centre, and Halfords will be giving out advice leaflets.

South Gloucestershire – Inspector Bob Evely's team from Filton police station will be tagging bikes at schools and colleges across their area and working with local bicycle shops to give security information to their customers. They'll also be at Frenchay Hospital, which is hosting a South Gloucestershire Travel Roadshow on Tuesday June 18, where they'll be offering instant registration to the national database www.immobilise.com for bikes and other items like mobile phones and mp3 players. They'll also be on the cycle paths in the area giving advice.
Inspector Dom Graham's teams based at Kingswood and Staple Hill will be on the Bristol to Bath cycle path at Warmley Station on Wednesday June 19 and Thursday June 20 from 3pm handing out stickers and information leaflets. They'll be talking to cyclists using the path to commute from school, college or work about how they can keep their bike safe both at home and wherever they leave it during the day. Cyclists using the path will also be able to have their bikes instantly registered on Immobilise.
Inspector Andy Workman's teams from Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury police stations will be visiting schools across their area to give pupils lessons in bike security and on Friday evening will be at skate parks in Yate and Thornbury.

North Somerset – Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Jenkinson and PC Gavin Clemons will be tagging bikes in and around the town centre in Weston from 12.30pm on Monday, June 17 and then moving on to tag bikes at Virgin Active, Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, and Weston General Hospital. Bike shops The Somerset Bike Centre and Bicycle Chain, both on Locking Road, will be giving out security advice leaflets.
Nailsea Cycle Centre will also be giving out leaflets.
Over the summer we are also holding regular bike security events at the popular mountain biking destinations of Ashton Court and Leigh Woods. Officers will be on hand to offer bike security advice and will be supported by the Police Cadets, who will conduct high visibility foot patrols to reassure cyclists and deter thieves.  There have been reports that bike thieves may follow cyclists home and then steal bikes from houses, sheds or garages, so the team will be urging cyclists to be vigilant and to secure their bikes properly when they get home. The team will be at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods on 30 June, 28 July, 25 August and 22 September.

Bath and North East Somerset – Neighbourhood Sergeant Rich Durnford and his team will be tagging bikes in the city centre and John's Bikes, Avon Valley Cyclery and Total Fitness will be giving out advice leaflets.

East Somerset – PCSO Yvonne Mears will be tagging bikes in and around the Frome hotspot and Live2ride and Halfords in Frome will be giving out advice leaflets.  Together with volunteer Gary Knight, Yvonne will be taking the mobile police station and 'Sheducation' demonstration to Halfords in Frome on Friday June 21, to demonstrate how to correctly secure a bike.  They will round off the week at Bike Jam in Welshmill Park, Frome, on June 22.

South Somerset - Advice leaflets will be given out by bike shops, including Tri UK in Yeovil.