Bicycle thefts up during lockdown in south London boroughs

Bicycle thefts rose in a lot of south London boroughs during lockdown, in keeping with a brand new report compiled by a London-based legislation agency.

The figures had been revealed with evaluation by Lawtons Solicitors, and look at the change in reported bike thefts from 2019 i.e. earlier than the arrival of Covid-19 in the UK to 2020.

They signalled reported thefts of bicycle had been up in a lot of south London boroughs, with these closest to the River Thames extra more likely to see an uptick in the thefts.

For instance, Lewisham reported an 23.92 per cent rise in the variety of bike thefts reported in 2020 versus 2019.

Other south London boroughs had been additionally impacted by sharp rises, resembling Wandsworth (+20.66 per cent), Sutton (+17.83 per cent) and Southwark (+23.92 per cent).

Lawtons prompt that the rise in the variety of bicycle thefts was in half associated to the bigger variety of individuals taking to bicycles during the coronavirus pandemic.

“In an effort to keep away from public transport, many Londoners residing in zones 2 and three took up biking all through the UK’s lockdowns.

“Criminals have seen this bicycle growth as a brand new alternative, concentrating on the property of latest cyclists who purchased bikes during the lockdown,” a spokesperson for the group stated.

Nick Titchener, prison defence solicitor at Lawtons, added:

“Bike theft is certainly changing into extra of an issue, and the numbers are a testomony to this.

“Unfortunately, suspects aren’t being recognized as a result of there’s normally no relationship between themselves and the sufferer and it’s a comparatively low-priority crime. On high of this, homeowners typically don’t doc the possession of their bike, making it troublesome to prosecute even when the perpetrator is caught.

“It’s important that you simply doc your bike that will help you recuperate it in the case of theft.

“Keep your receipt, make a file of the serial quantity and register your bike with a bicycle marking and registration scheme. This will allow the police to hint your bike again to you whether it is stolen and recovered.”

The story was much less distressing for cyclists in different south London boroughs, nonetheless, in keeping with the information.

The Lawtons report stated that thefts in Bromley, for instance, had been down 22.28 per cent.

Other south London boroughs displaying enchancment included Bexley (-19.23 per cent), Merton (-8.93 per cent) and Croydon (-4.55 per cent).