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Security System firm Selectamark has teamed up with Chichester District Council to bring its Bikeregister scheme to the area – which has seen bike thefts reduce by an impressive 44 per cent as a result.
Selectamark’s Bikeregister scheme, which easily marks and places bikes on a police-approved online database, was introduced to Chichester in January 2008.
Funded by the Chichester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), the scheme was publicised locally at events with local residents and shoppers, workshops and local leisure centres. One such event was a ‘Biker’s breakfast’ where Chichester CDRP members marked 100 commuters bikes as before they parked and secured them at the train station before travelling to work. Each bike owner also received a logbook as proof bike ownership.
Over 1,000 bikes have been marked so far in the area, with plans to include the local college in the successful project.
"The introduction of bikeregister in the Chichester area has been a great success,” enthused Chichester District Council’s senior safety officer Pam Bushby.
“Many bike owners have found it hugely reassuring that their bikes are now marked with a unique ID code and placed on a secure register.
"Should the bike ever be stolen and then recovered by police, it is extremely likely it can be traced back to the owner. The bike marking kits are so simple to use, it literally takes 30 seconds to mark a bike. Every cyclist has time to do that, rather than risk their bike disappearing forever."
