Throughout August the Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Team are running a Bike Safe campaign across the town.

The team are raising awareness and helping to educate Kenilworth cyclists on the basic steps they can take to help reduce the chances of them being a victim of bike theft.

Although bike theft in our town is relatively low when compared to national figures. Kenilworth Town has seen a slight increase of bike theft during the summer months of May, June, and July.

Statistics show that across the country more than half of all bicycle thefts take place from an owner’s property. Detailed below are bike thefts near or at owners house’s in Kenilworth.

At the start of May a male entered a rear garden via an unlocked garden gate on Bullimore Grove and stole a gents Saracen Pedal cycle black in colour from the garden.

On 28th May a black Specialized adult mountain bike was stolen from a bike rack next to the victims house on Harbourne Close Kenilworth.

On 11th June a rear garden on Waverley Road was entered and a blue and silver Olympus Storm BMX bike stolen.

On 4th July a silver and black mountain bike worth £120.00 with 18 gears grip shift type and full suspension was stolen from a bike rack next to the victims house on Harbourne Close. The lock had been broken off the bike and discarded nearby.

Simple crime prevention methods at home could lessen the chances of the above bike thefts taking place.

• Keep your bike in a secure garage or shed.
• Keep it out of public view
• Secure it to an immovable object

Bike thefts in Kenilworth have also occurred away from the home detailed below are thefts that have occurred within the town near to shops.

• On the 7th May at 8.50pm a young lad left his metallic blue BMX outside the Kenilworth Youth Centre Abbey End. It was left unlocked, and was stolen by a group of male youths. The informant later recovered the bike.
• On 3rd June at 0930 between 1015 am a Specialized Hard Rock was stolen from outside Sainsburys Kenilworth, the bike was not locked and valued at £400.00.
• On 20th June 0920 hours a bright green gents specialized mountain bike was stolen from a bike rack on Station Road the bike was chained up but the bike lock was cut and cycle taken. Value £1000.00
• On 30th at 5.15pm an insecure pedal cycle was stolen from outside Woolworths Warwick Road.
• Between 5th and 7th of July a White Hofman Condor BMX bike was stolen from outside Pizza Belle restaurant, the lock had been broken off the cycle.

  Many of these thefts within the town could have been prevented by taking a few simple security steps.

• Avoid isolated or dimly lit places. Leave your bike where a potential thief will have to perform it in public.
• If it’s an expensive bike don’t lock it in the same place, so it wont be noticed or stolen to order.
• Always lock your bike even if its only for a few minutes. Lock it through the frame.
• Invest in a quality lock hardened steel D shaped locks are recommended as the minimum standard. The more the bike is worth the more you should spend on a lock.

Recently the team successfully arrested a well known Kenilworth male youth for theft of a pedal cycle off Rounds Hill Kenilworth. The youth had stolen the bike from the property and was arrested on a nearby road Rouncil Lane. Crucially the loser of the bike was able to describe to officers markings and features to help prove that the stolen bike was in fact his.

Following on from the above incident Police would like to remind owners of bikes to note down bike serial numbers, or any distinctive markings or scratches. Anther good idea is to photograph the bike. This will make it easier for Police to reunite stolen bikes with their owners more quickly and effectively.

Throughout Bike Safe August the team will be displaying posters highlighting our crime prevention and distributing a specially designed 6 page leaflet detailing security tips for cyclists at numerous locations in Kenilworth.

Our leaflets will give cyclists in Kenilworth detailed advice on how to keep you pedal cycle safe. Current locations for leaflets are Sainsburys, Tesco Express, The library, Castle Farm Leisure Centre, Abbey Fields Swimming Pool, Mikes Bikes, Waitrose, Somerfield Stores, Kenilworth Weekly News Office.

The government’s aim over the next 20 to 30 years is to increase cycling.

The Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team are already ahead of the game, our pro bike approach means we carry out most of our patrols on mountain bikes and in fact do more cycling than any other team in the County.

If you are able to help the team with any of the thefts detailed above please call the Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhood Team hotline on 01926 684404 or via the website. Or Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111