Think once, think twice, think how best to secure your bike!

In my role as the so-called ‘Voice of the Public’ on matters relating to policing, inquiries come to me in various ways. Most often by email, sometimes verbally and, occasionally, through the media.

The question “Have our police given up on catching bicycle thieves?” was the headline on a letter published recently by Gloucestershire Live, which also contained an invitation to me to answer in this space.

The implication was that the police in our county do not take the theft of bicycles as seriously as those in other parts of the country. The basis of the claim was not given, nor is it supported by figures supplied by Police.uk.

The graph on the national website, comprising figures for the last couple of years, indicates the total number of bicycle thefts during that period fluctuates like one of those heart monitors you see in TV hospital dramas with irregular peaks and troughs. Overall, it shows that the number of thefts in Gloucestershire has fallen during that period with seasonal increases in between. These, I’m told, are to be expected.

Gloucestershire Constabulary recorded 74 crimes of bicycle theft in June this year – which is not considered to be abnormal for the county - while the total number of bicycle thefts is now much lower than it was in 2023.  

While it is true that Gloucestershire does have a slightly higher number of bicycle thefts compared to some other forces, it is not an outlier. And Police.uk figures show we are consistent with our most similar forces, which would suggest we are taking the issue just as seriously as any other.

Put another way, based on those national statistics, out of every 100,000 people who own a bike, 11 are likely to have it stolen. Or, around a one in 10,000 chance.

Bicycles have become more and more sophisticated and desirable with the price of some models running into four figures. So I am neither dismissing the threat, nor suggesting having one stolen is not a serious crime. But at a time when fewer police are expected to deal with an expanding workload, surely it is incumbent on all bicycle owners to invest in the best security available to deter the thief – and marking it to aid recovery in the worst case scenario.

With apologies to the old road safety campaign, ‘Think once! Think twice! Think how best to secure your bike!’