A Gwent Police bicycle marking scheme has been launched in Monmouthshire to help protect new bikes from thieves.
The new ‘Against Bike Crime’ (ABC) initiative involves police officers working with bicycle retailers in Gwent to fit security tags on new bicycles.
When a customer buys a bike, shop staff can pass their contact details to police. An officer will then contact the new owner to arrange to mark the bike and offer basic crime prevention advice on how to keep it safe.
Details of bikes and their owners will also be stored on a secure police database, which could help identify stolen bikes when they are recovered.
The following bike retailers in Gwent are already running the ABC scheme and it is hoped more stores will sign up in the coming weeks:
- Argos (Maesglas)
- Bridge Cycles (Monmouth)
- Gateway Cycles (Abergavenny)
- Gwent Cycles (Newport)
- Halfords (Newport)
- Halfords (Cwmbran)
- M&D Cycles (Abergavenny)
- RG Callow Cycles Ltd (Newport)
- Tesco (Maesglas)
- 559 Cycles (Chepstow)
Although the emphasis of the new scheme is to mark newly purchased bikes, police in Monmouthshire are also happy to provide the marking service to all cyclists.
Partnership Sergeant Chris O’Driscoll, of Monmouthshire Local Policing Unit, said: Often when we recover stolen bikes it is very difficult to identify who they belong to.
The ABC scheme can ensure that bikes are properly marked and assist the owners in looking after them.
Steve Stokes, of Gateway Cycles in Abergavenny, said: Thieves will go to extraordinary lengths to steal bikes, so this scheme is brilliant for our customers’ peace of mind.
Miles Preece, of M&D Cycles in Abergavenny, said: I think it’s a very good idea to mark all new bikes so we can get them back to their rightful owners if they are stolen. This Gwent Police scheme is a step in the right direction.
Anybody who would like a police officer to fit their bike with a secure marking tag should contact their local Neighbourhood Policing Team contact details can be found by visiting www.gwent.police.uk and entering your postcode.
Any Gwent bicycle retailers wanting to take part in the ABC scheme should send an email to christopher.o’[email protected]
