Police team up with retailers to help prevent bike thefts across region

The North Wales Police Central Community Safety Department is working in partnership with bike retailers across the region as part of a new initiative to prevent bike theft.

Retailers including One Planet Adventure in Llandegla, Halfords in Rhyl and Llandudno, The Bike Hub in Rhyl and West End Cycles in Llandudno Junction will be security marking all new bikes sold to local customers with tamper proof wraps, free of charge.

This service will also be available for bikes bought online with their websites and collected in store.

In addition all local bikes serviced at these stores will also have the security marked wrap applied as part of the service.

Sergeant Beth Jones of Central Community Safety said: “This is a great opportunity to work with the bike retailers in our area to provide crime prevention measures before the bikes have left the store.

“Last year 88% of bikes stolen in North Wales were insecure at the time of the theft.

“These thefts were preventable and this initiative will help make more bikes in North Wales traceable and less desirable to thieves.”

She added: “How would you feel if your child’s bike that you have just bought for Christmas is taken from the garden? How would you get to work if your bike that you use to commute is stolen? How would you replace your expensive bike that you have saved up for as the insurance won’t cover the loss as it was in secure?”

“We are also working with the retailers to assist customers in choosing approved quality locks and other products to secure bikes when they are not in use.”

The Police and Community Trust (PACT) have provided funding to support the initiative.

Project Manager Dave Evans said: “We are delighted to support this initiative as part of the ongoing Big Easy strategy.

“We feel that the Big Easy is fundamental in changing people’s attitudes to crime prevention and would encourage members of the public to protect their bikes.”