Bike thefts almost double in Bicester over two years

Statistics obtained by the Bicester Advertiser revealed 121 bicycles were stolen from the town last year – almost twice the number of the previous year.

Victims have called for action and fear that the problem will only get worse.

Elaine Plant, of Bicester Millennium Cycle Club, said her group is aware of the recent rise in bike thefts and as a result members are 'extra vigilant' when locking up bikes and stopping during cycle rides.

She said: "I knew the problem was getting worse but didn't realise the extent of how high the numbers were.

"As a club we often go out on rides and stop at a cafe where we can see our bikes outside or take chains and locks with us.

"Even that is not always secure, we had one member chain her bike to a down pipe on a building and within seconds someone had cut the lock and gone, with the bike never seen again.

"It is awful because people do get attached to these bikes, they're not just bicycles so when they're stolen it can be very emotional."

Ms Plant said almost every day on social media someone reports another bike stolen and asking for people to keep an eye out for the missing cycle.

The club has also warned its members to be careful when using tracking apps for cycle rides, as often starting and finishing your route online publicly can give away where you are storing your bike.

The figures, obtained from a Freedom of Information Request by the Advertiser to Thames Valley Police, showed thefts in Bicester have risen rapidly in the past two years.

In 2012 there were 72 bike thefts in the town, which dropped to about 60 in the following years.

In 2016 the figure spiked to 84 bike thefts before rising further to 121 last year.

James Bond, of Woodfield Road, had his Carrera bike, worth about £350, snatched from outside a friend's home in Roman Way in September and has never had it returned.

He said: "I just think it is terrible, it seems to happen more than car thefts these days.

"I expected the figures to be high because I hear about it so often, I have had about six people recently tell me there's had been stolen.

"I was so upset when my bike was stolen because it was my life, I relied on it a lot."

Mr Bond said the problem is exacerbated by the lack of activities in the town, leaving young people with nothing to do.

He said Sainsbury's bike racks in the centre of the town town are a hotspot.

Another victim, Deborah Tugwood, had her bike stolen when it was locked up in Bicester, before it was found a few weeks later dumped under scrap wood.

She said there needed to better security and a stronger police presence to stop the figures rising.

Mr bond added: "I think we should be cracking down on the problem, its shocking.

"More should be being done to stop it continuing – it is just as important as a car theft."