Between 1 May and 16 June, 32 thefts were reported in the town, including Splash Point, Montague Street, Marine Parade, and Worthing railway station.
Carrera mountain or hybrid bikes are the most commonly stolen, and thieves typically use bolt cutters to remove locks.
As a result, dedicated patrols have been conducted in the hotspot areas where the majority of thefts have occurred.
Bike theft is particularly prevalent in Worthing at the moment,” said Sergeant Isobel Wimbleton of the Adur and Worthing Neighbourhood Policing Team. We understand the financial and emotional toll it can take on victims, which is why we’re increasing patrols to prevent and detect future offences.” We will be holding a community bike marking event at Morrison’s on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch, and we would like to invite cyclists to come and speak with us as well as have their bikes marked. This can deter thieves while also helping to identify your bike if it is stolen and recovered. We will also be at the Sid Youth Summer Event on Friday, August 5th from 12pm to 4pm at Sompting Recreational Ground, where we will be bike marking.
Our advice to cyclists is to lock your bike securely in a well-lit and busy area, to be vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity to us.
On June 20, officers patrolling in Worthing town centre responded to a report of a stolen bike, and thanks to their quick response and quick actions, the bike was found and returned to its owner, along with a second bike suspected of being stolen. The investigation into this incident is still ongoing.
On June 6, police in nearby Horsham received a report of a pedal cycle theft in progress at Sainsbury’s in East Street. Officers responded and recovered three bikes, one of which had been reported stolen the previous month and has now been returned to its owner. A 24-year-old man from Crawley was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft and has been released pending further investigation.
We have identified several suspects for some of the recent bike thefts in Worthing,” said Sgt Wimbleton, “and once our investigations are completed, we will be conducting interviews and making arrests if necessary.” We have also identified a suspect from a recent appeal thanks to members of the public, and our investigations into this are ongoing.
