01/12/10….Free stickers prevent bike thefts

SOUTH Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership has joined with Thames Valley Police to help cut bicycle thefts in the area by giving away free hard to remove stickers.

Once the sticker is attached around the frame of the bike it makes it difficult to sell on the stolen bicycle. As they are marked with the owner?s address, the bike can be returned if found abandoned.

The partnership is also encouraging local people to:

? use a ?sold secure? branded padlock and chain
to secure the bike when unattended
? keep the bike out of sight, in a shed or garage
? report suspicious behaviour to the police on
0845 8 505 505.

Residents can get their stickers from local bike retailers, town police stations and the council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford.

Malcolm Wills, Crime Prevention and Reduction Adviser for South Oxfordshire said:
?A lot of people will have new bikes for Christmas that could attract opportunist thieves. Take a few moments to make sure no one is going to steal your bike, add the sticker, and ensure you have a decent lock and chain. Saving money on a sub standard lock and chain will be false economy if you have your bike stolen.?

Jane Murphy, Chairman of the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership and Cabinet Member for Community Safety at the council said:

?Our district has low levels of crime but we?re hoping to cut this even more thanks to these ingenious stickers. Criminals will find it hard to sell on a marked bike as it can always be traced back to the true owner.?

NOTE: For more information about the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership, visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/communitysafety

For a video about bike marking visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4FQrP3zdxg

For advice on how to make your bike as secure as possible visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xzhsvT0mLw&NR=1