Weekly update.

Dear Residents and Local Businesses, here is your weekly update from your local neighbourhood Policing Team, Stoke and Wyken.   

This week, officers from the Stoke and Wyken team have been consistently carrying out foot patrols in our local green spaces as the weather has become increasingly sunny. Some of these locations include Caludon Castle Park, Stoke Heath, Barras Green, The Lindfield, and St. Margaret’s Skate Park. 

We are also maintaining our focused guardian patrols in the areas of Walsgrave Road, Riley Square, Hillmorton Road, and Edgwick Park due to elevated levels of anti-social behavior (ASB). Therefore, if you happen to see us in the vicinity, please feel free to say hello and have a chat! 

Our officers have also made three arrests. One arrest was related to the theft of a bicycle, another involved three separate thefts, and the third pertained to two thefts along with a failure to appear in court. All three individuals have been duly charged. 

If you have ever experienced the theft of your bicycle, you understand how distressing it can be. Our useful tips will assist in keeping your bike secure and away from thieves, as well as provide guidance on how to recover it if it is stolen.  

The key point to keep in mind is to use a double lock on your bike and to register the frame number. 

Ten ways to protect your bike 

Follow these 10 tips to ensure your bike remains safe, secure and not a statistic. 

1. Double lock it 

Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target. Use two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock. Thieves are less likely to carry multiple tools, so use two different types of lock if possible. 

For further information and advice, visit Sold Secure. 

2. Lock the lot 

Lock the frame and both wheels to a secure cycle stand. 

3. Secure it 

Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre. 

4. Take removable parts with you 

Take parts that are easy to remove with you, such as wheels, lights, baskets or the saddle. Or use locking skewers or nuts which can increase security by securing the bike's components to the frame permanently. 

5. Park securely 

Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV. 

6. Register it 

Register your frame number on a national bike registration database approved by Secured by Design. The frame number is usually found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in. If your bike is ever stolen and recovered by the police, it can be traced back to you. 

7. Mark it 

Get your bike security marked. It’s a highly effective, visible deterrent to bike thieves. They know that if they are caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and they will be arrested. Security marking products can be found at Secured by Design. 

8. Remember safety begins at home 

Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street. Avoid advertising that you have a bike at home, for example, by removing car roof racks, and creating ‘privacy zones’ on apps like Strava to avoid disclosing your location.  

9. Check ownership 

Ask for proof of ownership and check the bike frame number on national bike registration databases approved by Secured by Design. 

10. Act fast  

If your bike has been stolen, contact us as soon as possible by reporting online. Give us your frame number, cycle database number, a photo and any other details and make sure you update the status on the cycle database where you registered it. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act, which might stop it being sold on. 

What to do if your bike is stolen 

It is worth posting a description and photo of your missing bike on the following forums: 

Vehicle Security Reminder  

Please be mindful when locking your car and take steps to keep your vehicle secure. We recommend the following:  

Don't Leave Valuables on Show  

It might sound obvious but leaving items on show is an invitation to the opportunist criminal - mobile phones, satnavs and mounts, power leads, money, wallets, handbags, sunglasses, coats, jackets and bags should always be removed from the vehicle or hidden well out of sight  

Hide Keys & Fobs  

Keys and ignition fobs should be kept safe and out of sight and reach. A common way to steal a car is to take the keys or ignition fob, so never leave them in the vehicle, even if it is unattended for a moment. When at home ensure that your keys or ignition fob are kept well away from windows or doors so that they cannot be seen by a potential thief and never leave them close to the front door where they can be accessed through letterboxes. Put the keys in a signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday bag.  

Lock Doors & Close Windows!  

Always lock and close the windows of your vehicle when you leave it unattended - be this on the drive, the petrol station forecourt, when de-icing your vehicle in the winter or when getting a ticket to park. An unlocked vehicle is the easiest to steal or steal from.  

Fit an Alarm  

If your vehicle is not fitted with a manufacturers’ fitted alarm and/or immobiliser, consider installing an approved system.   

Install a Tracker  

Tracker systems can increase the recovery of your car if it is stolen. Many systems activate once the car is stolen and track the car via GPS and other systems. SBD have several members which specialise in this area and can advise you on the best system and fitting of the product for your vehicle type  

Use Physical Security  

Physical security products such as a steering wheel lock or a lock that fits over the gear lever still act as a good deterrent  

Secure your Number Plates  

Fit theft-resistant number plate fittings. Stolen number plates are commonly used to hide the identity of stolen vehicles. Use one-way clutch head screws to secure number plates 

Live Chat | West Midlands Police (west-midlands.police.uk)   

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