Horncastle (Lincolnshire) PCSO Nigel Wass is spearheading a campaign in the town aimed at getting every cycle in Horncastle overtly marked with CRE Mark to deter cycle thefts.
 

PCSO Wass commented "You will be aware that the theft of pedal cycles is a national problem with in excess of 150000 cycles being recorded stolen each year. The Halifax & General insurance company goes further and estimates the true figure to be nearer half a million stolen and gives this a value of £113 million."

 

He continued "Horncastle is no different to any other part of the country and we too suffer from spates of cycle theft, where unfortunately very few of the stolen cycles are recovered leaving owners left without transport and the hassle of negotiating the small print of their insurance policy to try and get some compensation."

 

Horncastle Neighbourhood Policing Team have recognised that there is a need to heighten the publics awareness to security relating to their cycles and intend to implement a campaign commencing on Saturday 5th July 08 aimed at 'overtly' postcoding every cycle in Horncastle. The team also intend to visit all major employers in the town to remind and encourage those that do cycle to work to participate in the campaign.

 

This campaign will be well publicised via local media and retail outlets and will encourage residents to attend to get their cycles marked free of charge by one of the team. Those attending will also be given a 'passport' document, which will give a complete description of their cycle together with a photograph and the ever important "does and don'ts" relating to cycle security. However as an additional security measure and as a means to catch the publics attention the Neighbourhood Policing Team would like to give the first 100 attendees a good cycle lock, with which to secure their cycle when it is left unattended. The locks have been supplied as a special deal by CRE Products (details on request) following local sponsorship by Mortons Printers of Horncastle.