Police offer bicycle marking for free

POLICE are offering cyclists in Warrington the chance of having their bicycle security marked for free.
PC Danny Gee is hosting a special bike marking event at the Old Market Place in Golden Square this Friday, January 4, when local officers will be on hand between 10am and 3pm to security mark the bicycles.
This helps the police to trace the owner if the bicycle ever gets stolen. The details will then be registered on a national database.
PC Gee said: “Warrington Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Unit is committed to tackling this type of crime. As part of that commitment we are working alongside Golden Square and offering local people the opportunity to come along and have their bike security marked.
“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. This makes it very difficult for us to trace who the bike belongs to as there is very little to go on.
“We are urging as many people as possible to come along on the day and have their bikes security marked and meet local officers ? this is the ideal event for anyone who has received a new bike for Christmas and would like it security marked.”
Over the past few months there have been a number of bicycle thefts in the town centre and cyclists are being urged to remain vigilant.
Police are encouraging anyone who owns a bike to reassess their current security to reduce their chance of falling foul of thieves.
Cyclists are being reminded to remain security conscious and to follow a few simple security tips:
*Keep your bicycle locked away and out of sight when not in use – ideally in a shed or garage that is fitted with heavy duty locks.
*Invest in a good quality bike lock for when the bike is in use and left for a short period of time.
* Do not attach the bicycle to something which could easily be moved or cut and try to leave it in a well-lit area where there are a lot of people around.
* Report any suspicious activity in your area to police immediately.
Anyone with any information about bike theft in Warrington town centre is urged to call Cheshire Police on 101. Information can also be left anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.