Senior Sergeant Amanda Bowden, Footscray Police Station
Bicycle theft is an ongoing issue in Maribyrnong, with opportunistic bike thieves targeting train stations and high-rise apartments where bikes are left unlocked or without basic security measures in place.
Footscray Police urge cyclists to always lock up your bike, even when leaving it for short periods of time. Implementing simple steps such as using a good quality combination D-lock and locking cable can deter a would-be offender and prevent a theft from occurring. Quick release components including wheels and other bike accessories should also be secured with a secondary cable lock.
Senior Sergeant Amanda Bowden from Footscray Police Station said: “Footscray Police members regularly seize suspected stolen bicycles and locate dumped bicycles. Our biggest challenge is reuniting bicycles with their rightful owners. ”
“A bicycle thief was recently arrested in Footscray who admitted to dozens of thefts over the last few months, stealing bicycles from railway stations and easy to access locations and selling them cheaply online. Investigations are ongoing to try to identify owners.”
Senior Sergeant Bowden encouraged cyclists to keep photographs of their bicycle and to engrave their bicycle with an identifying number, storing these details in a safe place.
In the unfortunate event of theft, providing this information to police can assist both in investigating the theft and identifying the bicycle’s owner if it is located by police.
If you see any suspicious activity, report it to police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
