In support of National Bike Week, an initiative of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, An Garda Síochána is highlighting the increase in bike related crime.
Over the last 10 years the level of bike theft has increased by 227%, with approximately 6,750 reported bicycle thefts in 2014, equating to a monetary loss in the region of €4million. To end May 2015 there have been in excess of 2,100 reported bike thefts nationally, with in excess of 1,600 (76%) reported in the Dublin Region. Only 10% of bike owners are able to provide An Garda Síochána with the bicycle frame number
The facts:
In 2014
34% of all thefts were reported in Dublin City Centre,
40% in the rest of the Dublin Metropolitan Region and
26% outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
Twice as many bikes are stolen during the summer months, peaking in July, August and September.
Two Thirds of bikes are stolen from public places
The most likely time is weekday afternoons
One third are stolen from residential locations, houses, sheds, gardens etc...
The most likely time is overnight
An Garda Síochána recommends the following steps are taken to reduce the impact of bike theft.
• ALWAYS double lock your bike, even at home
• USE quality locks, spend 10% - 15% of the value of the bicycle
• LOCK the bicycle to an immovable object
• Record your bicycle frame/ serial number - Take a photograph of your bicycle
• Complete B.I.K.E Card (Bicycle Information Key Essentials) available here
• ALWAYS report bike thefts to An Garda Síochána
An Garda Síochána continues to target bike theft on an ongoing basis. Specific operations are in place in Dublin City Centre using ‘Bait’ Bikes to target bike thieves. Over recent weeks An Garda Síochána are trialling the use of GPS trackers, to test their effectiveness in preventing/ detecting bike thefts. This testing is currently ongoing.
Bicycles recovered by An Garda Síochána, where we cannot identify an owner, are regularly advertised on the Garda Síochána Flickr website. As part of National Bike Week, Bikes from the following areas have recently been uploaded and we are appealing to those who have had their bikes robbed in these areas to view the website with a view to possible recovery.
• Anglesea Street, Cork
• Athlone, Westmeath
• Ballymote, Sligo/Leitrim
• Boyle, Roscommon
• Roscommon
• Clontarf, DMR
• Irishtown,DMR
• Middleton, Cork
• Pearse Street, DMR
• Rathmines, DMR
• Shankill, DMR
• Store Street, DMR
• Terenure, DMR
• Enniscorthy, Wexford
• Tramore, Waterford
• Trim, Meath
• Limerick
Contact details for the local Garda Station are highlighted with each bicycle displayed.
Recovered bicycles are disposed of by An Garda Síochána through our approved auctioneers, Wilsons Auctions. In the last three years Wilsons have sold, on behalf of An Garda Síochána, approximately 2,500 bicycles.
Inspector Liam Geraghty, Community Policing Unit summarised the most important points as follows "over 1,600 bicycles have been reported stolen in the Dublin Region so far this year, when you invest in your bike, also invest in the lock, always lock your bike, no matter how quick you think you might be away and also at home or work, always report bike theft and please record the frame number of your bicycle”.
