It has been revealed today that Donegal has had the lowest number of bike thefts in Ireland.
Thirty-one bicycles have been reported stolen in the past two years in Donegal, according to Gardaí spokespersons at the launch of a new ‘Lock it or Lose It’ campaign.
An Garda Síochána are appealing to cyclists to take extra precautions in keeping their bicycles safe as new figures show over 14,000 bikes worth a combined €2million have been stolen since 2016.
Nationally, gardaí warn that bicycle theft is on the increase and expected to rise again in 2018.
The most common time for a bike to be stolen is during the hours of 8am and 5pm, with Friday being statistically the most common day for bikes to be stolen. The average cost of a bike stolen is around €510.
The majority of bike thefts occurred in Ireland’s main cities, Gardaí have said today at a conference launching the ‘Lock it or Lose It’ campaign.
Top tips for cyclists to prevent theft are:
• Spend 10% to 20% of the value of your bike of two locks
• Lock your bike tightly to an immovable object
• Keep the lock off the ground
• Take a photo of your bike, note the serial number and email it back to yourself so you have a record of it forever.
• Lock your bike indoors or in well-lit areas if possible
Speaking at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Tony Davis said: ‘We are appealing to everyone from the pros to the Sunday cyclist to lock their bikes as securely as possible. There has been an increase in the number of people cycling over recent years but unfortunately there is poor awareness of bike security.
“Nowadays with cycle the to work schemes, people are investing in more expensive bikes so it makes sense to invest in quality locks to prevent bike theft.
“A few simple tips such as; spending 10% to 20% of the value of the bike on two locks, locking your bike tightly to an immovable object and keep the lock off the ground, will make life difficult for the thief. Take a photo of your bike, note the serial number and email it back to yourself so you have a record of it. Of the 14,000 or so bikes stolen since 2016, we have only approximately 16% of the bicycle frame numbers recorded.”
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