Worcester police "robbing" bikes

rubadub

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/wnnewslatest/display.var.1618090.0.lock_up_your_bikes_or_we_will_take_them_say_police.php

Lock up your bikes or we will take them say police
By Sally Jones

CYCLISTS who fail to lock up their bicycles in Worcester could find them taken - but by police officers not thieves.

Officers are considering confiscating unlocked bicycles from the city's streets in an attempt to stop them being stolen by real thieves.

West Mercia Constabulary claims the shock tactic' is necessary following a sharp rise in bicycle thefts - a few years ago, an average of one bicycle was stolen in Worcester city centre a week but now the figure is two a day.

advertisementThe force admits cyclists who leave their bikes unsecured have not broken any law, and say they will eventually be returned.

Acting inspector Paul Crumpton said: "While we clearly anticipate objections from some quarters, we believe it is now time to take strong action in bringing home the message to cyclists that it is in their interests to be far more pro-active in looking after their property.

"Bikes used to be fairly inexpensive items, but nowadays we are talking about high-tech machines that can cost up to £5,000 - and sometimes even more.

"Admittedly, to consider removing bikes before criminals do is very much a shock tactic, but we believe that, if people do not start securing their property, it will quickly make many riders think longer and harder about how they safeguard their bikes."

Keen cyclist Bob Jones, from Wordsworth Avenue, Perdiswell, said the scheme was "laughable". "We don't need the police competing with the thieves," he said.

"The best way to teach people to lock up their bikes is to let them have their bike stolen, and then they will think more carefully about securing it in future."

Mr Jones has been cycling for about 25 years, and uses his bike to go shopping and to commute around the city.

"This is really quite laughable," he added. "It just seems a little pointless to be honest."

Worcester MP Mike Foster, who himself is a keen cyclist, said he was keen to see how the policy would work.

"This is certainly a novel approach," he said. "I am genuinely interested to see how it will work. If it means actual crime is cut because a theft is prevented then it's great news. But if it inconveniences more cyclists than it protects then it would need reviewing."

If a member of the public discovers their bicycle missing, they should report it to the police, who will then compare it to bikes already held in the property store at Worcester Police Station in Castle Street.

The police said the aim was not to discourage people from using bikes, but to encourage them to take steps to protect them.

There would be no fee for retrieving a bike from police and owners would be reunited with their property as quickly as they could attend the police station to identify it.

Specific officers will not be assigned to be on bike patrol', it would be the responsibility of all officers on duty in the city, that might come across an unlocked and unattended bicycle.

hmmm so they spend all that time, stealing the bike, bringing it back to the station, filling out forms, inconveniencing the cyclist.

Why not just wait around until a thief turns up and arrest them.

Why not have cops go around kicking wing mirrors off cars until motorists cop on and park in supervised car parks or put it in their garage.

Ghost Rider

I guess you could describe it as a "homeopathic approach to crime prevention" i.e. law enforcers commit crimes in order to stimulate vigilance among members of the public...

(I wonder what would happen if members of the public took a similar attitude to law enforcement...)

rubadub

I pity the poor cyclists there who didnt hear about it. Most bike theft is unreported because people know the police dont give a damn.

Pherekydes

What happens if you catch them in the act? :eek:

rubadub

Slow coach wrote:

What happens if you catch them in the act? :eek:

Beat them to a pulp and tell the judge you thought they wanted you to be vigilant.

What if a real thief sees them with a bike and claims it is his...

You will have lads chancing their arms, walk in to the cop shop "I lost a bike, it had Giant painted on the side and had 2 wheels", "take your pick son".

I remember this used to happen in UCD library, walkmen left behind were left it
"oh I left my walkman here yesterday",
elderly librarian -"any distinct features?".
"yes, it was a really rare model with megabass written on the side"
"WOW first out of the box"

kincsem

This might lead to the theft of police cars by cyclists, preferably in a sting operation where bicycles are deliberately left unattended