Thief followed me home, warns cyclist (From Thisisdorset)
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Thief followed me home, warns cyclist
6:00am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Latest
Thief followed me home, warns cyclist
A Poole cyclist who believes he was targeted by thieves who followed him home and stole his expensive bicycle is warning others to be wary.
Eddie Wilkinson had been on a training ride around Poole Harbour and Purbeck and thinks he must have been shadowed home from the Sandbanks ferry.
His £3,000 carbon racing bike, was secured behind two sets of locked gates and a locked outhouse, but determined thieves broke in and stole it.
“Speaking with the police and local bike suppliers, it appears that thieves are waiting at popular biking areas, such as at the harbour entrance as in my case, and following people on bikes which they feel they can profit from if stolen,” he said.
Richard Hilton-Foster, left, owner of Ride cycle shop in Lower Parkstone said: “We get someone in every day now who has had their bike stolen. It has been getting worse all year.”
He said it was well known that cyclists were followed from “hotspots” and not only those with expensive, customised machines. Bikes or parts were quickly sold on through internet websites.
His advice to cyclists included keeping a note of the frame number, taking a photo of yourself with your bike, keep it securely locked and check your house insurance.
In response to a rise in reported pedal cycle thefts, Poole South Safer Neighbourhood Team launched Operation Crossbar in July and several arrests were made.
A police spokesman said they had not had any reports in Poole of people being followed home.
Comments(17)
roamer100
says...
9:22am Tue 8 Jan 13
roamer100
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9:22am Tue 8 Jan 13
roamer100
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9:23am Tue 8 Jan 13
Wilkie
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9:24am Tue 8 Jan 13
http://www.kabrus.co
.uk/xl202.html
Holes Bay Curve
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10:13am Tue 8 Jan 13
I am confident that when I lock my bike in town - a thief will opt to pinched 90% of the other bikes that have 'toy' locks before they try to take mine.
beachcomber1
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10:20am Tue 8 Jan 13
Wilkie
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10:35am Tue 8 Jan 13
retry69
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1:06pm Tue 8 Jan 13
kingstonpaul
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1:12pm Tue 8 Jan 13
I’ve had a number of bikes stolen over the past few years (admittedly, none worth anything close to £3K). The reality is that bike thieves are well organised, are often from outside the area, with access to channels of distribution (i.e they can get rid of the merchandise quickly). And, like any efficient criminal enterprise of this kind, I suspect the gangs have also infiltrated the legitimate lines of supply, and are getting tip-offs from people involved in the day-to-day selling/distribution (i.e bike shops; repairers, delivery companies…). What else could possibly explain a friend of mine who had his prized new bike (yup, worth about £3K) stolen from his shed on the very first night he’d taken delivery? Or like at my local supermarket in SW London (I lost a bike there a year or so ago), where I suspect that the car parking attendants are tipping off bike thieves about quality merchandise being left at the bike railings.
Pablo23
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1:26pm Tue 8 Jan 13
beachcomber1 wrote:The conclusion to that logic is why don't they just not use a bike at all and run instead.
why do people who cycle for exercise buy ridiculously expensive hi tech bikes that miminise the effort required? surely if you want the exercise then the more clapped out and inefficient the bike, the more effort required to pedal it, the more exercise you get.
beachcomber1
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9:47pm Tue 8 Jan 13
Pablo23 wrote:no it's not, running is quite different and places different stresses on the body.
beachcomber1 wrote:The conclusion to that logic is why don't they just not use a bike at all and run instead.
why do people who cycle for exercise buy ridiculously expensive hi tech bikes that miminise the effort required? surely if you want the exercise then the more clapped out and inefficient the bike, the more effort required to pedal it, the more exercise you get.
ashleycross
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10:20pm Tue 8 Jan 13
pete woodley
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1:12am Wed 9 Jan 13
stevobath
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1:19pm Wed 9 Jan 13
Wilkie wrote:Already available,Has been for years.Lotsof cyclists spend big on their bikes but only small amounts on locks/security.10% of cost of bike should be spent on a decent lock.Saying that,if someone wants something badly enough they'll nick it.
Unfortunatley, there is little deterrent through the law against bike theives. Even if the police launched a sting operation with a 'rat trap bike', the most the perp would get is a fine. Seems to me that there is a big gap in the market for enhanced bike security systems. Off the top of my head, how about a lock that will emit a high pitched alarm if the circuit is broken in any other way than the undoing of the lock with the key/combo. The alarm unit could even be integrated into the bike. I feel a trip to the Dragon's Den coming on!
stevobath
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1:33pm Wed 9 Jan 13
pete woodley wrote:The blame game again.Most bikes are stolen for the PARTS as theyre easy to sell & almost impossible to trace.
Interesting to note someone else blames cash shops,i was in one once and saw a brand new bike being offered,and because the seller noticed me watching him he threatened me,obvious sign of guilt ?.
If someone threatened me in a shop, then I'd call the police.Threatening behaviour an arrestable offence & if you were convinced stoplen goods were being sold I suppose you called the police?...You do lead an adventurous life Mr. Woodley when it comes to witnessing crime.
Incidently I purchased a new bike many years ago.I had it for some months & used it only once or twice.It was basically new.I sold it to a bike shop in Charminster as I had bought it on a whim.Not stolen or illegal.Maybe youre too nosey or always see the bad in everyone? I've commented to strangers who have shown what I consider too much of an interest in MY bussiness.Does that mean Im a criminal? NO.
pete woodley
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3:10pm Wed 9 Jan 13
stevobath wrote:Steve having done a lot of security work,one does get an itchy nose,and can often spot a bad un.Nowhere did i say i threatened or even spoke to him,
pete woodley wrote:The blame game again.Most bikes are stolen for the PARTS as theyre easy to sell & almost impossible to trace.
Interesting to note someone else blames cash shops,i was in one once and saw a brand new bike being offered,and because the seller noticed me watching him he threatened me,obvious sign of guilt ?.
If someone threatened me in a shop, then I'd call the police.Threatening behaviour an arrestable offence & if you were convinced stoplen goods were being sold I suppose you called the police?...You do lead an adventurous life Mr. Woodley when it comes to witnessing crime.
Incidently I purchased a new bike many years ago.I had it for some months & used it only once or twice.It was basically new.I sold it to a bike shop in Charminster as I had bought it on a whim.Not stolen or illegal.Maybe youre too nosey or always see the bad in everyone? I've commented to strangers who have shown what I consider too much of an interest in MY bussiness.Does that mean Im a criminal? NO.
Wilkie says...
9:08am Tue 8 Jan 13