Almost 10,000 reported bike thefts in Dublin since 2016
By Mary Dennehy
An Garda Siochana is appealing to cyclists to take extra precautions in keeping their bicycles safe, as new figures show that more than 14,000 bikes have been stolen across the country since 2016.
This week, gardai have launched the ‘Lock it or Lose it’ campaign, which encourages people to lock their bike securely - and to heed crime prevention advice issued.
Of the 14,112 bikes reported stolen between January 2016 and June 2018 nationwide, 9,918 of these incidents occurred in Dublin.
According to figures from the Garda Analysis Services, bicycle theft was up 7.5 per cent in 2017 and is on course to increase again in 2018.
The most common time for a bike to be stolen is during the hours of 8am and 5pm, with Friday being statistically the most common day.
Speaking at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Tony Davis said: “We are appealing to everyone from the pros to the Sunday cyclist to lock their bikes as securely as possible.
“There has been an increase in the number of people cycling over recent years but unfortunately there is poor awareness of bike security.”
He added: “There is a trend of not reporting theft of bikes to Gardaí which makes it difficult for us to reunite any recovered bikes with their owners. If your bike is stolen, report the theft to Gardaí as soon as you can.
“If you are buying a second hand bike, look for proof of ownership before purchasing. If you have had your bicycle stolen, you can go onto the Garda website to view bicycles and all other property that is currently in our property stores.
“Finally, I would ask all bicycle suppliers to highlight the ‘Lock it or Lose it’ campaign when someone is purchasing a bike.”
Crime Prevention Advice
-Spend 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the value of your bike of two locks
-Lock your bike tightly to an immovable object
-Keep the lock off the ground
-Take a photo of your bike, note the serial number and email it back to yourself so you have a record of it forever.
-Lock your bike indoors or in well-lit areas if possible
Some of the bikes and other property that are currently in Garda property stores can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gardasiochana
WATCH:
Video from Garda.ie
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