Merseyside Police increase policing resources to tackle bike theft on the Wirral

Autumn is often thought to be a popular season among cycling enthusiasts, the unique colours and nature presents some wonderful scenery, especially here on the Wirral with so many picturesque hotspots. So as this new season begins, Merseyside Police want to take the opportunity to highlight their increased efforts to reduce the number of bike thefts taking place in the area and provide some timely advice of the steps cyclists can take to protect themselves and their bikes going forwards.

Unfortunately, recent national statistics show that cycling is down by 20% in the UK with one of the main fears being people fearing their bikes getting stolen. Merseyside Police want to reassure bike owners that reducing the number of thefts is one of the main priorities for the Wirral and as a result, have provided an uplift in patrols in the hotspot areas where these robberies have occurred. This means that people can expect to see more high visibility officers patrolling on foot, vehicles, quad bikes and on mountain bikes themselves for the less accessible areas such as parks and open spaces.

Another key initiative that the force has undertaken is to set up a new bike registration project. It is estimated that only 1 in 5 victims of bike theft report it to the police, but we want to highlight that if a bike is registered through an official bike marking scheme, it is 83% less likely to be stolen. We are pleased to report that since the launch of this project, Wirral policing team have hosted over 40 different bike marking events across a variety of local schools, churches, supermarkets and community events and as a result, have successfully registered over 335 bikes. This has been a successful start to the project, with multiple further events planned throughout the rest of the year. You can find out the details of these upcoming events on the ‘Wirral Police’ Facebook page.

Another aspect of the project has involved officers working with local bike shops, providing them with official ‘BikeRegister’ marking kits, so all of their new bikes can also be registered at the point of sale. Similarly, registration can also be included for customers paying for a repair or service too. This will help increase the number of bikes in the area with a visible deterrent to bike thieves.

Inspector Alan McKeon, Prevention Hub stated: “The Wirral landscape makes it a really popular spot for cycling but unfortunately, despite it only being a handful of robberies, it can have an onward detrimental impact. It can leave a lot of people feeling wary of venturing out alone on their bikes, especially youths who can be classed an easy target. I would therefore like to emphasise how committed we are to preventing these occurrences from taking place in the Wirral. In addition to the extra highly visible policing resources that people will be able to spot in the popular cycling areas, we are also deploying some plain-clothed officers to assist in their efforts.

“I am also pleased to report of our partnership with Bike Register, the UK’s national cycle database and the leading online bicycle identification and registration initiative aiming to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and assist in owner recovery. Utilising their database has allowed us to have multiple successes of returning stolen bikes with their rightful owners, some with an extremely high retail value. This is as aspect of our role which we take great pride and pleasure in achieving and it is something we are constantly striving to achieve.

“This is why I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting your bike registered on a trusted website like BikeRegister. Not only does it mean there is a higher likelihood of us being able to return a bike if it has been reported stolen, but it also gives us a greater opportunity to catch and convict offenders.  

“Finally, I just want to remind people that despite our efforts, we can’t solve cycle crime alone. Therefore, I would like to encourage anyone who owns a bike to follow some simple steps to protect yourself and your bike from becoming a potential target. Where possible try to park your bike in a well-lit area, lock both wheels and the frame of your bike to a cycle stand or other immoveable object and use designated parking areas where possible. Remember to take any removable items with you such as wheels, lights, baskets and saddle and try to not park in the same place every day.

In terms of personal safety, try to stay aware of your surroundings and by keeping to busy, well-lit streets, walkways and paths, these are the areas more likely to be covered by CCTV. One thing I would like to stress more importantly though, if you are threatened with violence, don’t risk your personal safety. Property can always be replaced, you can’t.”

For more detailed advice about how to protect your bike from theft, please read our 10 top tips listed in our crime prevention handbook available here: Protect your bike from theft | Merseyside Police.