By Goya Dmytryshchak
A Seabrook woman is calling for secure bike parking at train stations to combat “rampant” theft after having two bikes stolen in the past six months.
Cath Stephensen said thieves cut through a metal fence to steal her $3000 bike from Aircraft station at Laverton on April 23.
She had bought the Trek Verve+ electric assist, which she named ‘Rosie’, to replace a bike stolen from Williams Landing station last October.
“Rosie was locked to the fence … with a high quality D-lock,” Ms Stephensen said. “The thief cut through the fence railing to get the bike.
“The feedback I’m getting through social media is that people are just saying it’s rampant.”
Bicycle Network recommends cyclists use two locks or a Parkiteer cage at stations because they are one of the most common places for bike theft. However, even Parkiteer cages are getting broken into with a recent case at Williams Landing station.
Last year, there were 114 reported bike thefts in Hobsons Bay (up from 81 in 2017), 148 in Wyndham (up from 134) and 210 in Maribyrnong (up from 168).
Ms Stephensen, who believes reported thefts are the tip of the iceberg, said when she earned enough money to buy a new bike she would take greater precautions.
“I will be getting a lock with an inbuilt alarm and I will be getting insurance,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Chris Allen said while there had been an increase in bike thefts last year, local intelligence indicated this trend has stabilised in recent months.
