Police officers have reunited a stolen bicycle with its original owner in Wedmore this week.
The Bianchi Via Nirone racing bicycle was stolen from the owner’s garage in Wedmore on 13th September.
After receiving the report officers looked into reports of stolen bicycles matching the bicycle description and launched a social media appeal sharing images of the stolen bicycle.
During a search of a property in Weston-super-Mare, officers located a bicycle in the rear garden. This bicycle was believed to have been stolen and therefore seized.
A possible match was identified through the images of the bicycle supplied by the owner and following the owner confirming the stolen bicycle was indeed his, the bike was returned.
Commenting on his bicycle being returned, the owner, who asked not to be named, said: “This is great work by Avon and Somerset Police and I am delighted to be reunited with my bike. It is important to recognise how vital the images were in assisting the police in identifying the bike and this incident is an excellent example of why always noting the details of your bikes and other belongings is necessary.”
PC Howard Brown commented: “It is always really pleasing to return stolen belongings to their original owners. We take burglary very seriously and are committed to identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible.”
“The images provided by the owner were crucial in supporting us in linking the stolen bike with the original owner. We encourage owners to always log their bike’s details including taking pictures and wherever possible, get your bikes security marked and registered.”
Police’s tips to keep your bicycle safe from thieves:
- Where possible, store your bicycles in your home.
- If this isn’t possible, ensure they are kept in a secure outbuilding such as an alarmed and locked shed or garage.
- Lock your bicycles to something immovable like a wall, the floor or a railing.
- Double lock your bikes using two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock.
- Get your bikes security marked and registered at BikeRegister and Immobilise.
- Record the details of your bicycles including noting the frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in), the BikeRegister number plus any other distinguishing features, and take a photo.
