Avon and Somerset Police want to reunite stolen bikes with owners

Avon and Somerset Police are seeking to reunite 10 stolen bikes with their owners. The bicycles are among 15 that the police found after raiding a premises in Burnham-on-Sea during December, five of which have already been claimed by their rightful owners.

Police will be holding an open day at Burnham Police Station this Saturday from 4pm to 6pm, when anyone who has had a bike stolen in the area is invited to come along to see if theirs is one of the bicycles that have been recovered.

People attending are asked to bring along photo ID such as a driving licence or passport, as well as proof of ownership, if possible, for example a receipt, the frame number, or a photo of the bike.

Even without those details, all may not be lost. According to PCSO Gill Bawler, "if a member of the public has had their bike stolen and wishes to attend the Open Day but they don't have registration documents, they should still come if they are able to describe the bike correctly especially any distinguishing features such as specific scratches or damage, stickers or modifications."



She added, "we are really keen to reunite as many bikes with their owners as possible. I would also like to take the opportunity to encourage people, especially if you have had a new bike for Christmas, to register it on www.immobilise.com or get your property marked. If you get your bicycle security marked it dramatically increases the chances of it being returned should it be lost or stolen."



Police say that people who get their bicycle security marked by the end of this month will be entered into a competition, with the winner getting £150 worth of bicycle accessories, and further information is available on the force’s website.

Details regarding property marking, crime prevention and home security are available from Safer Stronger Neighbourhood teams, who can be contacted on 0845 456 7000 or by visiting the Avon & Somerset Police website and clicking on the Crime Prevention heading.

The force is building something of a reputation in tackling bike crime. Last year, we reported how it helped a cyclist in London recover his bicycle after it was advertised for sale on eBay, as well as a clampdown on bike theft in Bristol that saw plain-clothes officers deployed on the city’s streets.