free bike marking surrey
The first 50 cyclists to turn up will get their bikes security marked for free at special events being organised by Surrey Police in Guildford and Haslemere on Friday (Dec 19) and Saturday (Dec 20).
The event, which is being funded by the Office of the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, is being held at Evans in Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford, from 10am to 2pm, and at Cycleworks in West Street, Haslemere, from 11am to 3pm.
Organised by West Surrey Community Safety Sergeant Adam Luck, the cycle marking events are the third and fourth to be held in West Surrey, with successful events already held in Woking and Camberley.
Once the bike is marked, it will be registered on Datatag, a site designed to help reduce crime and reunite recovered personal property to its rightful owners.
Sgt Luck said: "Cycle marking is a really simple way of protecting your property and now is as good a time as any to think about proper security. Bikes are marked with special UV ink and tamper evident stickers which include the Datatag telephone number and a unique cycle identification number. This information makes it much easier to reunite bicycles with their rightful owners if they are stolen.”
"Security marking also acts as a deterrent to bike thieves and so prevents them from being stolen in the first place.”
Many bicycle thefts can be prevented by taking basic precautions and cyclists are reminded of a few safety tips by Surrey Police:
• Obtain a good bike lock (D locks or combination locks are best - ask for a recommendation at a bike shop)
• Lock your bike to something secure - a bike rack or lamp post
• Lock up removable parts (for example, wheels) or take them with you (for example, light fittings)
• If you store your bike in a shed or garage, make sure you keep it secure.
