Police are reminding cyclists and home owners in the Byron Bay area to remain vigilant when it comes to securing their bicycles and property following a spate of recent thefts. In the last twelve months, 165 bicycles have been stolen in the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command with the majority of those stolen from houses, yards and off the street in the Byron Bay area. Bicycles are a common form of transport in the Byron Bay area and statistics show the majority are being stolen during the night from the yards of houses and off the street. Inspector Greg Jago from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command said cyclists and home owners need to be more vigilant and make greater attempts to secure their property. “In most cases, the bikes were left unlocked against lamp posts, outside shops or in yards of homes providing would-be thieves with ample opportunity to steal them. “A good lock will often deter would-be thieves and you should make sure you lock your bike against an approved bike stand, in a shed, inside your house or against solid metal poles that are not easily removed. “By taking some time to consider your home security measures and locking your bike up with a lock, inside the house or lockable shed you reduce the chance of being a victim of crime. “Cyclists should also make sure they remove expensive accessories such as lights and digital speedometers if leaving their bikes for extended periods. “They should also record their bikes serial number and consider getting their details engraved in the frame of the bike making it easier to identify if stolen,” said Inspector Jago. Meanwhile it is also timely to remind cyclists about the need for personal safety including wearing approved helmets, fitting lights for night riding and abiding by the road rules. “Cyclists are legally obliged to abide by the road rules and may face fines if caught committing offences,” Inspector Jago said. If your bicycle is stolen you should report it to your nearest police station immediately or contact the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on 131 444. Some bicycle security tips include: • Never leave your bike unattended and unlocked – be sure to use a good quality lock. A good quality U-lock is much harder to break or cut than cheaper chains or cables. • Lock as much of your bike as you can. Lock your back wheel and frame to a rack if possible. You can remove the front wheel and lock it as well or use a second lock to connect the front wheel to the frame (a lighter cable lock should provide sufficient security for this). If space is tight and you can only lock one thing, lock the frame – it is the most valuable part of your bike. • Lock your bike where it can be seen. Placing your bike near passing traffic or where it can be watched from windows helps to deter thieves. This will also improve your personal security while locking and unlocking your bike. • Lock your bike to a solid object. Do not lock to objects that are easily cut such as chain wire or tree branches. Make sure your bike can not be stolen by lifting it over the object you have locked it to. Solid bike racks or metal poles are good choices. • Be respectful of other traffic. Locking your bike to handrails or near pedestrian facilities could block access. Be careful not to block ramps or other facilities people in wheelchairs use. • Remove accessories such as lights, cycle computer, pump and panniers or bags. If these accessories are not removed from the bike, someone might take them. • Make your bike less attractive to thieves. A bike that is not obviously brand new, or one that is highly personalised might be less attractive to thieves. If you have an expensive frame it might be worth removing the sticker that identifies the frame type. • Keep your bike secure when at home. Keep your bike in a locked shed or store it inside your house. • Record the frame number of your bike (this is usually stamped underneath the bottom bracket). • Take a colour photograph of your bike and keep it in a secure place. • Personalise your bike. For quick identification you can add reflective tape in a particular pattern, add stickers or paint the frame..
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 06:06:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015