The Hull Daily Mail has reported that bike shop owners are joining forces with police to tackle the scourge of cycle theft. Participating stores are encouraging people that purchase new bikes to register them on the online Immobilise National Property Database.
If the bike is stolen and recovered, police will be able to check the database via their NMPR system and return it to its owner.
Chris Hardy, Hull’s secondhand dealers officer, said:
Cycle stores have been quick to embrace the opportunity to support the police with this initiative, which is a fantastic opportunity for their customers to get their cycles registered on Immobilise before they leave the store.
By increasing the number of cycles registered online, I hope we can reduce cycle thefts in the city, as thieves will be reluctant to take property that is identifiable and can lead to prosecution for stealing the cycles or even handling stolen property.
As well as cycles, other property can be registered by the public on to the system once an account has been set up.
Bike theft has been rising in the city with an increase in shed and garage break-ins.
Ainthorpe Primary School pupil Grace Horton, nine, was reunited with her beloved bike three days after a burglary at her family’s home in West Hull. It had been stamped and added to Immobilise during an event run by police at the school.
Her mum Julie said:
She was inconsolable when I told her it had been stolen, even when I said I would buy her a new bike.
She said she just wanted her old one back.
Grace’s bike was found dumped outside a house three days after the break-in last month. The occupant called the police, who checked the their systems and realised it belonged to Grace.
Miss Horton said:
She was absolutely over the moon when the police said she could have her bike back.
I am so pleased she had it stamped, otherwise we never would have seen it again.
For more information please visit:
The Immobilise Property Register: www.immoblise.com
The Humberside Police website: www.humberside.police.uk
For the source story please go to: www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-bike-shops-crackdown-cycle-theft