News Item - News - Surrey Police

Surrey Police help tackle recent spate of bicycle thefts in Runnymede with cycle surgeries.

Submitted: 24/11/2009 16:00:38

Launch of surgeries to protect bicycle owners in Runnymede

Police in Runnymede and partner agencies will be running several cycle surgeries across the borough in the coming weeks, as part of an initiative to help tackle bicycle thefts.

The surgeries have been organised as part of the Safer Runnymede Partnership which sees Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey Police working together.

Neighbourhood teams from Addlestone, Chertsey and Egham are all preparing for surgeries at various locations to offer members of the public the opportunity to interact with officers and help protect them from bicycle thefts.

Police are organising the events in reaction to a recent spate of thefts within Runnymede.

One example of such thefts occurred on between 3.30pm on 21 November and 7.15 am on 22 November in Beverley Close, Addlestone where two mountain racing bikes were stolen. The offenders gained entry to an unlocked shed in the garden and took two bikes. One of the bikes was said to be worth around £800.

Another example occurred on 18 November between 4.00pm and 6.45pm in Vincent Road, Chertsey. The victims bicycle was left unsecured in the garden at the rear of the property. Thieves stole the mountain bike estimated to be worth around £200.

Police are inviting members of the public to come to the cycle surgeries to learn how to protect their bicycles. Officers will be handing out “Protect your bike” tags that owners can record details of their property on. Officers will also be marking bicycles with owners post codes, so that in the unfortunate event of a theft, bikes can be more easily tracked.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to have a photograph of their bike taken for their records, alongside other crime prevention tips from officers.

Runnymede Borough Inspector Roger Nield said: “These cycle security surgeries offer members of the public an excellent opportunity to learn how to not become a victim of bicycle theft. We welcome the public to come along to the surgeries, where we will happily mark and take photographs of their bikes, old or new.

I would advise anyone who is planning on purchasing a bike in the run up to Christmas to come along.

Surrey Police are continuing to proactively work on tackling this type of crime, and using these simple methods can assist us in catching the offenders and reuniting bicycles with their owners.”

The “Protect your bike” security surgeries will be held at the following locations during December:

Addlestone 7 December 2009. Between 3.00pm- 6.00pm at Surrey Cycles, Station Road

Chertsey 1 December 2009. Between 3.00pm- 6.00pm at Birdie Bikes, Guildford Street.

Egham 5 & 6 December 2009. Between 10.00am and 4.00pm at Halfords on the Causeway.

12 & 13 December 2009. Between 10.00am and 4.00pm also at Halfords on the Causeway