Police help cyclists gear up for summer with free security marking events

Ahead of the summer bike season, Merseyside Police is hosting a series of free marking events across the city region, encouraging the public to protect their bikes from theft or robbery.

The events follow increased reports of incidents involving bikes and electric bikes, including robberies and anti-social behaviour.

In the past month, a number of e-bikes and suspected stolen motorbikes have been seized by police and their riders arrested, including the following:

• On Thursday 2 May, two males, aged 20, 18, and two females aged 15 and 29, were arrested and four suspected stolen motorbikes seized from a property in Garston. The 20-year-old male and 29-year-old female have been conditionally bailed and the 18-year-old male and 15-year-old female have been released under investigation.
• On Wednesday 1 May, a 21-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested after a group of males were riding e-bikes in an anti-social manner in Stanley Park, in Anfield. He has been released under investigation.
• A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection to two separate robberies of e-bikes on the Loopline in Halewood on Monday 29 April. He has since been conditionally bailed.
• On Saturday 27 April, five e-bikes were seized from a property in Huyton and a 42-year-old woman and 17-year-old male were arrested. Both have been conditionally bailed.

At the events, bikes will be marked with a unique code and added to the national Bike Register database, making it easier for police to reunite stolen bikes with their owners. It can also act as a deterrent to would-be thieves as the bike is permanently marked, making it more difficult to sell.

Research suggests cyclists are 83% more likely to have their bike stolen if it is not Bike Register marked.

Officers are actively checking bikes on Bike Register to see if they have been reported as lost or stolen. This has now resulted in a significant number of stolen bikes being returned to their rightful owners. In the last year, more than 1,000 bikes have been registered by officers. 

During the Wirral Bikeathon on Sunday 19 May, officers engaged with hundreds of racegoers and offered security advice, with 218 bikes being marked on the day alone. 

Officers marked hundreds of bikes at the Wirral Bikeathon

Superintendent Phil Mullally said: “We have made a number of arrests and positive seizures of e-bikes in the past month and will continue to patrol open spaces and provide a visible presence as we head into summer.

“Innocent people who use bikes and e-bikes are often targeted and fall victim to robberies at the hands of people who are intent to use them to assist their criminal activity. We understand how distressing it is to be a victim of this type of crime and the impact it can have.

“We are working hard to reduce this through targeted patrols to disrupt and arrest offenders and hosting free marking events to help bike owners secure their property.  

“Using Bike Register helps us to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.

“If you own a bike or e-bike, please come along to one of our upcoming events, within a few minutes your bike will be registered and better protected.”

Upcoming bike marking events

June

• Saturday 1 June 2024 – Asda, Croft Retail Park, Bromborough, Wirral 16:30 PM – 18:30 PM
• Monday 3 June 2024 – Stadt Moers Park (Rangers Office), off Pottery Lane, Knowsley 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Monday 3 June 2024 – YPAS South Hub, Lyndene Road, Liverpool 10:00 AM – 13:00 PM
• Tuesday 4 June 2024 – Volair Leisure Centre, Stockbridge Village, Knowsley 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Thursday 6 June 2024 – Salvation Army, Strawberry Fields, Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool 10:00 AM – 14:00 PM
• Thursday 6 June 2024 – Lime Street Train Station (main steps), Time TBC
• Friday 7 June 2024 – Mersey Park (Children’s Play Area), Wirral 16:00 PM – 18:00 PM
• Friday 7 June 2024 – Strawberry Field (The Salvation Army), Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool 10:00 AM – 14:00 PM
• Sunday 9 June 2024 – Palm House, Sefton Park 12:00 PM – 16:00 PM
• Tuesday 11 June 2024 – Junction 1 Retail Park, Bidston, Wirral 11:00 AM – 13:00 PM
• Thursday 20 June 2024 – Gate Community Centre, Princess Drive, Huyton, Knowsley 17:00 PM – 18:00 PM
• Thursday 20 June 2024 – Sainsbury’s supermarket, Prenton, Wirral 13:00 PM – 15:00 PM
• Tuesday 25 June 2024 – Outside the Bar and Terrace, Oxton, Wirral 15:00 – 17:00 PM
• Wednesday 26 June 2024 – Pets at Home, Cables Retail Park, Prescot, Knowsley 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

July

• Thursday 4 July 2024 – Tesco supermarket, Heswall, Wirral 15:00 – 17:00 PM
• Thursday 11 July 2024 – Village Green, Thornton Hough, Wirral 12:00 PM – 14:00 PM
• Monday 15 July 2024 – Tesco supermarket, Bebington Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral 17:00 – 19:00 PM
• Thursday 25 July 2024 – Halfords, Croft Retail Park, Bromborough, Wirral 11:00 AM – 13:00 PM
• Tuesday 30 July 2024 – Conway Street bus station, Birkenhead, Wirral 16:00 PM – 18:00 PM

August

• Monday 5 August 2024 – Spellow Library, County Road, Liverpool 15:30 – 16:30 PM
• Wednesday 7 August 2024 – Café in Birkenhead Park, Wirral 11:00 AM – 13:00 PM
• Friday 16 August 2024 – Village Green, Thornton Hough, Wirral 16:00 PM – 18:00 PM
• Friday 23 August 2024 – Junction 1 Retail Park, Bidston, Wirral 17:00 PM – 19:00 PM
• Tuesday 27 August 2024 – Bebington Police Station, Civic Way, Wirral 10:30 AM – 14:00 PM

Some dates may be subject to change and more dates are due to confirmed across each borough. Please follow Merseyside Police’s social media channels for updates and upcoming bike marking events near you.

Anyone with any information about anti-social behaviour or the illegal use of bikes is asked to call Merseyside Police on 101, DM us @MerPolCC or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

For more practical tips on how to protect your bike from theft, visit: Protect your bike from theft | Merseyside Police