On Friday 14th February, Shildon Police visited Thornhill Primary School where they carried out day-long bike marking exercise as part of Operation Spoke.
Operation Spoke is a Durham Constabulary led operation, working with other partner agencies to significantly reduce cycle crime by uniquely marking and registering cycles in County Durham and Darlington. Success of other property marking schemes at reducing the overall levels of acquisitive crime is well documented and now local police are expanding this concept to cycles. Around 200 bikes were security marked in the school yard and registered with Durham Constabulary.
PC Steve Brown commented, “The benefits of marking and registering cycles is that they can easily be identified by Police should they ever be stolen or go missing. “Easy identification means cycles can be quickly reunited with their rightful owners and thieves can be quickly arrested and brought to justice. “The marking is free and only takes a minute to carry out. It also deters would-be thieves in the first place by increasing their chances of being arrested and by making the cycle harder to sell on. “Thornhill is the first school we have visited but we are going to do the same exercise in all the other schools in Shildon. “However, don’t forget if you sell your bicycle, remember to update your details at www.immobillise.com”.
Wednesday 26th February sees Operation Spoke go to Timothy Hackworth School.
“If you plan to have your bikes marked then please remember your consent form,” said a spokesperson.
Anyone who is not a student at the school who is interested in protecting their bike should contact Shildon Police station.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
