Would-be bike thieves might have to stick to walking after the launch of a new scheme in Dunedin aimed at preventing bicycles being stolen.
The Dunedin City Council and police have teamed up to stop bike thefts through the use of the United States bike recovery service 529 Garage that came to New Zealand two years ago.
To use the service, bike owners register with an app, and enter their bike’s serial number, identifying features and photos.
Keeping a record of these details allows police to return any stolen bikes they recover.
Cycling advocate Jon Dean said any effort to curb the theft of bikes was supported by the cycling community, especially considering the price of many bikes, particularly electric bikes.
"Thieving isn’t positive, but initiatives like this are.
"Stolen bikes are definitely a growing problem and the loss is becoming greater with the popularity of electric bikes."
Security was important for bikes, and this initiative supported that.
Two stolen bikes had already been successfully recovered and returned to their owners thanks to the scheme, the council said.
Cr Steve Walker said 529 Garage would bring an extra sense of security to those who enjoyed biking around the city.
"The partnership with the police is what really makes 529 Garage effective, as it ensures that bike theft is taken seriously with recovery processes in place so you can feel like you’ve done all you can to recover your missing bike."
Dunedin joins Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, where the scheme had already been launched.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said 529 Garage would would help deter bike thieves, but doing all you could to secure your bike was still important.
"It’s also important for people to remember that prevention is key.
"Use a quality D-lock or thick chain lock to secure your bike, always lock through your frame and a wheel to a solid object and never rely on a flexible chain lock or cable lock as your primary lock."
