Paul Winter column: Make sure your bike does not get stolen

Cyclists; love them or hate them you can’t deny that they are everywhere at the moment.
Police are urging all cyclists to make sure their bike is securePolice are urging all cyclists to make sure their bike is secure
Police are urging all cyclists to make sure their bike is secure

I’m a lover of them personally. I regularly cycle into work and it’s good training for my upcoming charity bike ride.

Believe me, we feel just as frustrated having a car crawling behind us waiting to pass as the motorists do themselves.

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With the weather playing ball, most of the time, and as we approach summer expect to see even more of us on the roads. Please, whether you are behind a wheel or at the handle bars, let’s all be patient and considerate on the roads.

On 22nd May, along with 26 other police officers from around the country, I’m cycling 280 miles through three countries in three days. The bike ride will raise funds for Oakdene – a council run care home in Nottingham.

I’ll update you on how it goes in my next column.

But, more pertinently, this week I want to make sure no one faces that long walk home because their bike has been stolen.

We have directed patrols to areas in which bikes are commonly parked in a bid to deter thieves, but we need your help to prevent this type of crime.

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Most victims do the right thing by securing their bikes to allocated posts. The problem is the chains that are often used are very easy to cut.

Putting a £5 padlock or chain on a £1,000 bike is a bit like closing your front door but leaving it unlocked. It’s not enough to stop criminals.

Take pride in your ride. Lock up your bike if you leave it, no matter how short your stop, and always park where it can be seen clearly.

D-locks are stronger than cable locks or chains as they are a solid metal and very difficult to cut through. Make sure the lock is tight so that your bike is difficult to move around, twist or lever when it is parked.

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Never lock your bike to something that is weaker than your lock and never leave the lock lying on the ground where it could be smashed easily.

Mark you bike’s frame via Bike Register or with Selectamark or CreMark.

Always keep a record of the frame/serial number and take photos of your bike, including details such as the make, model, frame size, colour and any other unique markings that could help us find it.

Register those details at www.immobilise.com or www.bikeregister.com as this will help us get your bike back to you if it is stolen and later recovered.

Report suspicious or unusual activity around bikes to police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.

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