An increasing number of bicycle thefts has been identified in
two or three areas in Harrogate town. The Harrogate District Safer
Communities Partnership is working with local police to persuade
people to take care of their bikes and stop thieves in their
tracks.
Stop Them Taking Your Bike for a Ride is being
run on three consecutive Saturdays in November and is a free
service for all the family to come along and have their bike post
coded.
Police officers and staff from the Partnership will be out
with the mobile police van between 10.00 am until 4.00 pm on 12
November at Halfords on Knaresborough Road, 19 November at Dragon
Road car park next to ASDA and on 26 November in the car park next
to the Henry Peacock pub in Starbeck.
Chairman of the Partnership, Councillor Mike Gardner, says
this initiative provides the perfect opportunity to protect the
whole family's bikes free of charge. "We have
all woken up to the need to carry out simple measures to protect
our homes and cars from theft but we often forget about bikes which
are, of course, an easy target for thieves. The presence of a
recognised dye post code stamp acts as a deterrent to potential
thieves and enables bikes to be easily identified and returned to
you. In addition, the chance of theft is significantly reduced
through fitting a high quality cycle lock. This is cheaper than
having to replace your bike.
"Schemes like this are proving a major success in helping to
drive down crime in our district and we want to thank the public
for their support. So whether you have had your
bike for years or are just about to buy one for Christmas, pop
along on Saturday for advice, post coding and lock purchasing."
ENDS
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 11.30 am 12 November
at Halfords on Knaresborough Road when officers from NY Police and
the Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership will be post
coding bikes and offering advice.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Councillor Mike
Gardner is available for comment on 01423 500600 ext
6299. Further information on the scheme is
available from Julia Stack, Harrogate Borough Council's Community
Safety and CCTV Manager on 01423 556632.