POLICE in Ellesmere Port are urging cyclists to keep a safe note of their bike's details to improve the chances of recovery if they are stolen.
Owners are encouraged to keep details either on a personal record, or via an online database such as Secured by Design - recommended by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
In doing so, it will enable officers to return bicycles to their rightful owners.
The initiative is part of Operation Tempe which has been set up by Cheshire Police to combat the theft of bikes.
Sergeant David Christmas of Ellesmere Port Neighbourhood Policing Unit said:
“We have seized a number of bikes recently but it has been difficult for us to confirm that they have been stolen and return them to their owners.
“This is because the owners are often unable to provide us with the serial or frame number that would enable us to identify their bike.
“We are asking cyclists to help us tackle this by taking a few minutes to note down their bike's details or to register it on one of the databases available,” he added.
Police will liaise with local bike retailers to assist cyclists in registering their details with a database.
Another of the recommended databases is Immobilise, a website that allows free registration of property ownership details and provides police forces with the facility to search against serial or frame numbers.
The website allows members of the public to register any piece of valuable property with a serial number.
To register your bike's details through Immobilise, visit www.immobilise.com.
BLOB: Anyone registering property on the website is asked to select the ‘Cheshire Police - Ellesmere Port' option in the ‘Where heard' question.
For a list of other recommended property databases, visit www.securedbydesign.com.
