Published at 16:44, Friday, 21 September 2012

SCORES of bikes are being stolen with only a small proportion being recovered or returned to their owner, according to police.

RECOVERED: Inspector Mike O’Hagan, next to seized bikes CHRIS WARNER REF: 50038699B001

Officers in South Cumbria are urging cyclists to take more care after a high number of thefts, which may have been avoided if people had taken greater security measures.

Inspector Mike O’Hagan, of Barrow police, said 162 bicycles had been stolen in South Cumbria since April, including 31 in Barrow.

Of these only 10 per cent have been recovered.

Insp O’Hagan said: “That’s not brilliant. That’s the vulnerable thing about them and how they can be dismantled quickly and made into new bikes.”

There has also been a large number of bikes recovered by police that have not been claimed, 30 of which are stored at Ulverston police station.

Mountain bikes are most likely to be stolen, accounting for 62 per cent of thefts, with most bikes stolen in built-up areas and in the evenings.

The inspector said: “A lot of people aren’t think about safeguarding their property as well as they might.

“You certainly can’t afford to leave your bike on display as you go into the shop or into other people’s homes and leave it outside.

“If they are secured in a shed, then combine that with not just the shed being secure, but the bike being secure as well.” Insp O’Hagan also stressed the need for owners to mark their bikes so they can be identified if recovered.

Ben Irwin, 23, had his £2,000 bicycle stolen from his home in St Matthews Mews in Barrow on August 15. Mr Irwin had returned home from working at Barrow Central Joinery and left his Scott Ranson 40 bike in the garden while he popped inside.

Within minutes, the bike had been stolen.

“I reckon the bike has gone now,” he said. “Because it is such a dear bike it is worth more as parts separately than as a complete bike.”

To find out about bike marking offered by the police, call 101.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk