Bike Thieves on the Prowl in Canterbury – University Students Warned!
Pushbike thefts are on the rise around Canterbury, with brazen thieves targeting university grounds and local homes. Police are urging cyclists to beef up security after several thefts and attempts in the past week.
Daring Daytime Theft at University Campus
On Tuesday 29 November at 3pm, a man and woman tried to snatch a bike from the university bike sheds on North Holmes Road. The victim spotted a man riding off on his stolen bike and stopped the woman who had been with him. The suspect suspiciously handed the bike back before the pair fled, leaving behind a rucksack and bolt cutters at the scene.
More Bikes Swiped Across Canterbury
- A black pushbike vanished from university grounds on University Road sometime between 26 November afternoon and 28 November morning.
- Another bike was pinched from a garden in Pyott Mews around 10am on 29 November.
Police Plea: Lock Up or Lose Your Ride
Inspector Guy Thompson warned: “Pushbikes are a hot commodity for thieves – easy to sell and keep their value.”
“No one deserves to have their bike nicked. Do everything you can to make life hard for these crooks,” he added.
His top tips to keep your bike safe:
- Use a quality lock and secure your bike by the frame to immovable objects.
- Park in busy, well-lit spots covered by CCTV cameras.
- Remove all detachable gear – cycle computers, lights, cameras, bottles – before leaving your bike.
- Mark your bike with property tags and register its frame number on websites like Immobilise.
Hundreds of stolen bikes are found each year, but many can’t be returned because owners haven’t marked them properly. Protect your two-wheeler or risk it ending up in the thief’s hands for good.
