Police are appealing for information after two bicycles were stolen in Edinburgh.
They were stolen from a garden shed at an address in Buckstone Avenue around 6.45pm on Thursday, 25 January, 2024.
The first is a green/bronze coloured Ragley Mountain Bike with purple handle bar end caps and the second is a blue coloured Giant Fantom Mountain Bike.
Inspector Keith Forrester said: “One of the bikes holds a great deal of sentimental value to the family as it belonged to their 18-year-old son who died in February 2023.
“The family are distraught and described the bike as their late son’s pride and joy and provided them with many fond memories.
“We are appealing for anyone who has any information to come forward. If you were in the area and have private CCTV or dash-cam footage which could help, please get in touch.
“If you have unknowingly bought one of the stolen bikes recently, it would mean so much to the family to get the bikes back.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference incident 3430 of 25 January.”
Police Scotland has launched a national campaign to tackle the rising number of bike thefts taking place across the country and to raise awareness of bike security within the cycling community.
Pedal Protect officially kicked yesterday (Friday 26 March), to address the increasing trend in bike thefts, which has been experienced throughout Scotland in the past year. It will also be supported by British Transport Police.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and downward trend in various acquisitive crime offences, Police Scotland’s year to date figures in February 2021 showed over 4900 reports of stolen cycles were made. This is a rise of 18% from the previous year.
Often these crimes are motivated by opportunity, with those responsible taking advantage of poor or non-existent security measures in place when leaving bikes unattended, or storing them within sheds, garages and other outbuildings.
The launch of Pedal Protect took place at Fettes Police Station, where officers highlighted the significant number of lost and stolen bikes that come into police possession on a weekly basis.
In order to improve bike security officers across the country will be hosting a range of bike marking events and will publicise these on the Police Scotland social media channels.
In addition, police have been engaging with bike retailers in town and cities and many have now agreed to provide Pedal Protect and Bike Register security information leaflets to customers who purchase a new bike.
Local policing teams will also continue to gather intelligence on bike thefts taking place in their communities, and carry out appropriate enforcement action when required. The public are asked to come forward with any information relating to the theft of bikes within their communities.
Detective Superintendent Matt Paden, Police Scotland Acquisitive Crime Lead, said: “Across Scotland, cycling is a popular form of transport, as well as a recreational past-time and each year the public spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on buying bikes.
“Despite the significant sums of money people spend on a bike, the amount spent on security pales in comparison. Stealing a bike is often seen as an attractive option for those involved in acquisitive crime, as to do so is normally a quick process, with modest security measures in place, easy to overcome.”
“While bike theft typically takes place to allow thieves to make a quick sale, we now believe more expensive custom bikes are being targeted by organised crime groups so they can be resold for hefty prices, which fund their criminal operations.
“We have launched Pedal Protect because we will be conducting a range of intelligence-led activity to return stolen bikes to their rightful owners, but also to encourage all of those who currently own, or who are considering buying a bike, to invest in appropriate security.
“I would also urge anyone who has had a bike lost or stolen to regularly check in with their local policing division and provide all relevant details so we can return as many recovered bikes as possible, often cycles are recovered but no one comes forward to claim them”
Supporting the Pedal Protect campaign is record-breaking Scottish cyclist, Mark Beaumont.
Attending the launch, Mark Beaumont added: “A bike can cost anything from a couple of hundred pounds, to several thousand pounds, but no matter what you pay, the feeling you get when your bike is stolen is the same.
“It’s devastating when a valued possession is taken from you and that’s why it’s so important to make sure you take all the necessary steps to keep your own bike safe.
“I’m really happy that Police Scotland has launched Pedal Protect, because not only are they taking the investigation of any stolen bike seriously, but are working hard to educate the public on how to safeguard their bikes.
“Having been the victim of a bike theft myself, I know how much distress it causes and that’s why I would urge all cyclists to consider the security they currently have in place for their bikes and ask themselves, are these measures sufficient?
“Police Scotland will be promoting their Pedal Protect campaign on a number of channels, including social media, so I’ll be sharing their messaging on my streams too. I really hope this helps raise awareness on bike security and potentially stop any of my followers having their own bikes stolen.”
Police are appealing for information following the theft of four high valued pedal cycles. The bikes were stolen from a vehicle which was in a car park in the Haymarket area sometime between Tuesday 4 August 2020 and Thursday 6 August 2020.
They are described as:
1. Black and red Trek Rail 9.8 (2020) E-Bike, medium size carbon frame with ‘Trek’ in black writing. The motor within the bike is Bosch.
2. Lime coloured Whyte S150 bike, large sized carbon frame, with an oval golden chain ring. The bike has Magura MT8 branded brakes with 220mm discs, orange pedals and grips.
3. Blue and white Trek Fuel women’s specific design, small alloy frame, Sram Juicy RS branded brakes with red pedals and 26 inch wheels.
4. Brown Cheetah custom build, extra small alloy frame and 26 inch wheels. It has Whyte DT Rear Suspension which is unique with an adjustable seat post (which is adjustable from the handle bars). It has blue grips and blue pedals.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0942 of 6 August 2020. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.
And, completely unrelated …
Get on your bike! Cycle sales skyrocket at Cash Converters
More active lockdown lifestyles have seen cycle sales skyrocket – almost doubling – at UK Cash Converters stores after they re-opened their doors to customers in June.
With lockdown restrictions slowly easing throughout the UK, Brits are now enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, and it looks like more and more families are gearing up to get on two wheels during the school holidays this summer.
New stats from the UK’s leading retailer of second-hand goods, Cash Converters, show bike sales have soared by 74 per cent since re-opening, as thousands turn to its booming high street bargain stores for their new bicycles.
The figures, which cover the initial three-week sales period after non-essential stores were reopened across the UK last month, show the huge spike in cycle sales after lockdown compared to the same period previously.
And it’s not just bikes. More savvy shoppers aiming to bag a bargain are turning to Cash Converters stores and its hugely popular online webshop, with sales of leisure equipment, phones, laptops and the latest tech all rising significantly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Peter Hall, CEO at Cash Converters UK said: “The past few months have been challenging for everyone across the country, with restrictions and limitations greatly impacting the ways we’re able to work, exercise and socialise.
“Now that we can get out and about more freely again, many people have turned to new hobbies and outdoor activities, and we’ve seen huge increases in the sale of so many second-hand goods in our stores – particularly bikes. We’ve also seen increases in other hobby items, such as musical instruments and fishing equipment.
“As a second-hand retailer our prices are always extremely competitive and more people are starting to look for used rather than new because the quality is still there, but it comes with a lower price tag. When it comes to gaming, jewellery, baking equipment, DIY tools and everything else in between, people are turning to Cash Converters more than ever.
“And it’s not just about buying from us, if people are keen to unlock the value of their unused goods, jewellery, tech and other household items – or they need to make space in their home – they’re able to sell those to us for cash there and then or use our buy back service.”
Cash Converters is a franchised retailer which buys and sells pre-owned goods in 196 stores throughout the country. For more information, visit https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/.
Officers from Leith Police Station have charged a 15 year old boy in relation to the theft of pedal cycles.
Community Officers and Team 2 Response Officers recently recovered 5 bikes and have reunited 4 of them with their owners. Enquiries are still ongoing to identify the owner of one of the bikes.
Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr from Leith Police Station said: “The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we travel. The UK Government is actively encouraging everyone to use pedal bikes more and the City of Edinburgh Council are creating safe and accessible spaces for walking and cycling.
“Recent press reports indicate that bike sales have increased in the city and unfortunately it would appear that certain individuals or groups of people have decided to take advantage of this by stealing them while left locked and unattended.
“Our enquiries have resulted in a 15 year old boy being identified and charged in connection with recent thefts of bikes in the city and enquiries continue to identify others who may be involved.
“We are also keen to trace the owner of the Voodoo pedal cycle seen in the image on this post (above). If this is your bike please call 101 quoting incident 3746 of 20/05/2020.
If you have any information regarding the theft of pedal bikes I urge you to call police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.
