ACT Policing is urging cyclists to ‘Lock it, or Lose it’, to combat the rising number of reported bicycle thefts across Canberra.

While reports of property crime across the ACT have dropped more than 40 per cent in the past five years, reports of bike theft have continued to increase, with reports tending to peak between January and June.

Officer in Charge of Crime Reduction Station Sergeant Daryl Neit encouraged cyclists to avoid becoming a victim of bike theft by taking extra steps to secure their property.

“Bicycle theft is an opportunistic crime, made all the more tempting for would-be thieves when bikes are left unlocked or poorly secured,” Daryl said.

“We know that most cyclists do lock their bikes, however it’s likely that many are not locking them properly. Check out the video on ACT Policing’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, which shows the best way to lock up your bike.”

“Whether you ride a cheap and cheerful bike or a carbon-fibre super-light-weight racer, it’s important to prevent bike theft and lock up properly. And, if your bike does get stolen, report it immediately to ACT Policing on 131-444.”

Police are also urging cyclists to record details of their bicycles, as only 16 per cent of bikes recovered by ACT Policing in 2013 were able to be identified.

“In many instances, stolen bikes that are recovered by police cannot be accurately identified and don’t make their way back to the original owner. It’s essential that bike owners record details including the bike’s serial number, characteristics and photographs, so it can be easily reclaimed if found.”

As part of the campaign a Bike Passport has been developed to help bike owners keep detailed records. More information about the ‘Lock it, or Lose it’ campaign and an electronic version of the Bike Passport are available at justice.act.gov.au/biketheft and police.act.gov.au/biketheft .