Bike security drive by police

PEOPLE in Warrington are being offered the chance to have their bikes security marked free of charge on October 27 – following a spate of thefts.
Police Community Support Officer James Butterworth is hosting the session as part of “Westy Feel Good Event” at Westy Community Centre, Latchford.
Officers will be on hand between 11am and 4pm to security mark the bikes using the BikeRegister scheme.
PCSO Butterworth said: “It acts as a deterrent to would-be thieves and is also a good way of identifying a bike if it is ever stolen and later recovered.
“We do recover many bikes, which we suspect are stolen, but we are often unable to trace the owners as there are no security markings on them.”
The scheme uses a permanent and visible chemical solution with micro dots that is applied to the bike frame to form a unique personal code. A security sticker is put on each bike to show it has been marked and details recorded on a database. PCSO Butterworth said: “It will be a great opportunity to not only have your bike security marked but to also meet local officers who will be on hand to offer valuable crime reduction advice.”
The initiative is in response to a number of bike thefts in the area, and residents are warned to be vigilant. Bikes have been stolen from outside shops and buildings, and Latchford is a current hotspot for this type of crime.
Police advise people to keep bikes locked away, have a good quality lock for when it is unattended, leave it in a well-lit area and do not attach it to something that can be removed.