CommunitySafe.gov.uk

Police are advising motorcycle owners to secure their bikes using a ground anchor – a strong chain padlocked to a permanent and secure object – after three motorbikes were stolen from outside homes in the borough in the last few days. All the vehicles had been locked in some way, but were not locked to a ground anchor leaving police to believe that the bikes had been lifted onto a van or truck in some way. A Barossa scooter was stolen from a driveway in Twyford Road, Carshalton, on Thursday (7th October) between 3.00pm – 3.35pm after the bike’s owner had popped into the property for a shower. Although the bike had a chain passed through the wheel, this chain had not been secured to the ground anchor which had been installed by the bike owner’s father to prevent the bike from being stolen. The day before - Wednesday (6th October) - a blue Yamaha bike was taken from outside a property in Park Lane, Wallington, between 8.00pm – 10.40pm. The bike had been locked with a disc lock on the front wheel, which prevents the wheel from rotating, but had not been secured to a ground-based object. The same day (6th October) a Yamaha bike owner in Manor Road, Wallington, had locked his bike using two chains and padlocks. But thieves still managed to steal the bike between 5.30am – 8.00pm. PC Pat Simcox, of Sutton’s Crime Prevention Team, urged motorcycle owners to secure their bike to a permanent anchor point at their property or have a purpose-built ground anchor point installed. “If residents see a bike being loaded on to the back of a van then it may be a theft in progress - so call police on 999,” said PC Simcox. The crime prevention team have a Home Office booklet entitled ‘Steer Clear of Bike Crime’ - a guide to motorbike and scooter security. If you would like a copy please contact the crime prevention team on 020 8649 0569.