Maidenhead & Windsor

People living and working Maidenhead are being urged to make sure they secure their bicycles to prevent them being stolen.

The advice follows an increase of bicycle thefts in the Maidenhead area.

Pete Bennett, a crime reduction adviser, said: ”It’s a really good idea to register your bike on the website www.immobilise.com, so we can trace you as the owner if it is stolen.”

This website is funded by the police and you can register any property on it as long as it has a serial number. In the event of registered property being stolen, you record this on the website and this information appears on the police national stolen equipment database. This online checking service is used by all the UK police forces to trace owners of stolen property.

You should also ensure your bike is locked to something immovable, such as a bike rack. The website www.soldsecure.com, which is closely linked to the Home Office and police, lists locks which have passed tests to see if they can be broken into.

Pete added: “If you’re leaving your bike in a town centre, pick a place that is within sight of a CCTV camera. Then if it is stolen it will be possible to identify the offender.
“Avoid leaving it in a cycle parking place that is off the main shopping area. Leave it in a busy area where there are lots of pedestrians where it is open to view and therefore less likely to be stolen.”

Bicycles should not be left unattended in front gardens or outside homes. Keep them securely locked in a shed or garage. Depending on the value of your bike you could consider locking it to a D bolt set into the garage wall, or to a spike in the floor. The fittings of the shed or garage door should be dome headed coach bolts, not screws.

If you need further advice about crime prevention, please contact:
Malcolm Wills (Windsor/Wraysbury/Datchet/HortonAscot/Sunninghill/Sunningdale)
on 01753 835505 or
Pete Bennett (Maidenhead/Knowl Hill/Cookham/Hurley/Bray/Holyport/The Walthams)
on 01753 835508

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead