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Huge rise in reported bike theft

But what proportion is actually being reported?

“Just out report: ‘United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror.’ not good, we must keep America safe!” tweeted Donald Trump earlier today. Here at road.cc we’ve consulted the figures and, assuming the link the US president draws is entirely justifiable and appropriate, it seems that radical Islamic terrorists are after your bike.

Crime in England and Wales has risen by 13 per cent according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

‘Crime’ is of course a somewhat broad term, covering everything from gun crime to bike theft.

The latter saw a 19 per cent rise in the year to June.

July 2016 to July 2017 saw 100,788 incidents of cycle theft reported to police compared to 84,685 in the previous 12 months.

It is worth pointing out that the 2015-16 figure was the lowest in over a decade according to the ONS. A more pertinent question, perhaps, is just what proportion of thefts are being reported.

Recent police data indicated that in three-quarters of cases, no suspect is identified, and just 1.5 per cent of reported thefts result in a conviction.

Beginner's guide to bike security—how to stop bike thieves and protect your bike

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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4 comments

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Tynedoc | 6 years ago
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BarryBianchi [340 posts] 22 hours ago
3 likes  

And what of solve rates?  Now I'm no Detective Chief Inspector, but if I saw that lad in the photo....

quote

Youf: "I was off to free me old gran, mate, who's got here head stuck in the railings again"

Plod: "Thanks fine then son, mind how you go"...

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BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
3 likes

And what of solve rates?  Now I'm no Detective Chief Inspector, but if I saw that lad in the photo....

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scouser_andy | 6 years ago
1 like

Wonder if they only count if the whole bike is nicked. I had my stem/bars/shifters etc nicked the other night, as had the bike next to mine. Second time it's happened in London now. Interested to know whether it would show up in these stats as it appears to be on the rise.

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LastBoyScout replied to scouser_andy | 6 years ago
1 like

scouser_andy wrote:

Wonder if they only count if the whole bike is nicked. I had my stem/bars/shifters etc nicked the other night, as had the bike next to mine. Second time it's happened in London now. Interested to know whether it would show up in these stats as it appears to be on the rise.

I'd be inclined to fill the hex heads with Araldite if you leave it again.

I've seen from a few sources now that component theft is on the rise.

I've actually started locking through the forks of my mountain bike if I leave that anywhere - they could have the whole front end of the bike otherwise. Anti-theft skewers would certainly help prevent fork loss on any bike if you've locked through the front wheel.

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