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Avon and Somerset Police step up efforts on bike crime

Plain clothes officers out in force

Avon and Somerset Police have stepped up their efforts on bike crime in Bristol. Plain-clothes officers are out in force on the lookout for cycle thieves in the city.

And their attempts to crack down on bike theft were highlighted after two men, including a one-legged thief, were caught by plain-clothed police trying to make off with a bike in Bristol city centre.

Recent research indicates a bike is stolen in the UK every 65 seconds and the boom in cycling has created rich pickings for bike thieves.

Inspector Phil Davis of Avon and Somerset Police said in the Bristol Evening Post: "These arrests show that police in Bristol are taking cycle theft very seriously and we will come down hard on anyone we catch stealing bikes.

"We are working very hard to make Bristol a safe place to be a cyclist and are working closely with the council's Cycling City team to ensure that there are safe places for owners to park their bikes in the city.

"If you own a bike make sure you make it hard for thieves to steal by using a good quality lock and if you see anything suspicious around a cycle parking area please dial 999."

The news comes after Avon and Somerset Police were praised for their response by a cyclist after he was reunited with his classic Bob Jackson bike a year after it had been stolen.

Members of the londonfgss.com forum discovered the ex-Londoner’s £1400 bike on eBay and Avon and Somerset Police recovered it the same day, and even delivered it to his home.

Mr Jones had said: “The police response in Bristol was phenomenal, and I was surprised, mainly due to my experiences with London police. They took the matter very seriously.

Bike forums are invaluable resources, with thousands of people looking out for rare parts, and some of Bristol’s police regularly sign in to them.

 

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11 comments

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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Outstanding. Did he chain the thief to a railing and 'deal' with him?

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Guess what?

I got it back! Be blogging about it later, but a big shout to Warren from Cycling Plus who spotted it being ridden through Bath challenged the git riding it and got it off him.

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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Harsh tony. Guidob, i agree, thats the response I have had...go claim on your insurance. If you are caught red-handed as it were then why is therea need for a trial. Those caught by plain clothes policemen in Bristol should be locked up with no trial as they were caught in the act.

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jezzzer | 14 years ago
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bad luck tony - it sucks getting your bike nicked. i've left my bikes unlocked by co-op in odd-down, but generally actually inside the doors. might think twice about that now....

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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It was the Co-op on the Bear Flat.

I'm not holding out much hope of getting it back, but the police were interested because the manager of the Co-op told me it was all caught on CCTV.

My fear is that the thief won't know what he's got - I take a minimalist approach to bike maintenance on my own bike and it's really scratched (pre-production paint job) so it might end up in the canal or the river cos to the untrained eye it doesn't look like it's worth anything…

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guidob | 14 years ago
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12 bikes stolen outside of my office in 6 months, police response, "here is your crime number - next please..."

Even when the bike was seen leaving the car park and was very distinctive (white full sus frame, pink tyres) and we called within seconds...

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therevokid | 14 years ago
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which co-op ?

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Here it is actually locked up… which it wasn't outside the Co-op, well I was only in there a few seconds… he trails of lamely

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OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
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Should be easy to catch the perp then - seeing as the image of the crime is posted here!

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Double irony - the crime scene double in that pic is my bike… life imitating art

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dave atkinson | 14 years ago
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Ah, the irony. Tony's bike was half-inched from outside co-op this very morning...

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