Local Priorities – Cycle Theft
Shared from Northamptonshire Talking
We have a brilliant good-news story to share for our Northampton community, which shows how working together helps us all. Earlier today, a vigilant local resident noticed a suspicious E bike left out in the community. They acted quickly and reported it to our local PCSO team, using the valuable Northamptonshire Talking system.
Responding swiftly, the PCSOs located the bicycle, which had been taken just days ago. It has now been returned to its owner, who relies on it for their daily commute. The owner was unable to afford a replacement, making its recovery a massive relief and allowing them to once again travel to work both promptly and safely. They expressed their gratitude, saying: “When we received the phone call to say the stolen bike was found, we felt a rush of disbelief quickly followed by relief and gratitude. After all the frustration and hopelessness, it felt like a weight lifted off our shoulders. The turnaround for the resolution of this has been quick and we are greatly appreciative of your guys’ efforts. Thank you so much again!”
To ensure the bike’s long-term security, local officers also registered it on the national BikeRegister database. This increases the chances of it being recovered again if it were ever stolen in the future.
This is a great example of community policing in action—residents and officers working together to solve problems and improve safety. This outcome highlights not only the importance of local officers being known and trusted within their communities, but also the value of the Northamptonshire Talking system as a way for residents to share information that helps us take positive action.
General information if you have a bike that we hope is useful.
Report theft of cycles immediately on discovery to police. Delay in doing so can mean missed opportunities to recover your cycle and prosecute the offender.
If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.northants.police.
Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
