A young cyclist has been reunited with his stolen bike, thanks to quick police work and a timely arrest.
Twelve-year-old Adam parked his bike outside Parakiore in Central Christchurch on 23 June and secured it with a lock. When he returned a short time later, it was gone.
Thinking he’d never see it again, Adam and his mum waited a couple of days before reporting it. What they didn’t know was Police had recovered Adam’s bike within about 15 minutes of it being stolen.
The offender was on bail and required to report regularly to a police station. Earlier that day, Community Constable Olivia Bensley had alerted custody staff to detain him for an earlier breach of his conditions.
Needing transport, he decided to steal a bike - and rode it straight to Christchurch Central Police Station.
When he arrived, staff acted immediately, taking him into custody and recovering the bike on the spot. The cut lock was found in the man’s bag, along with side cutters believed to have been used in the theft.
The bike was returned when Adam and his mum reported it days later.
Police used the opportunity to talk with Adam and his family about bike security. They were given a free Project 529 registration shield, information on registering their bikes and advice on stronger locks.
Olivia says prevention plays a big role in stopping bike thieves.
“Most bike thieves look for the quickest, easiest option,” she says. “Cable-style locks can be cut quickly using small, easily concealed tools, but a strong lock like a D-lock is often enough to make them move on.”
Police are also encouraging cyclists to register their bikes with Project 529, a free national bike register.
“If a bike is registered, we know who it belongs to and can return it quickly,” Olivia says.
“We’re thrilled to get Adam’s bike back for him. Bike thieves take more than just property, they take away people’s sense of security and independence.
“We’ll continue to target these offenders, but for all the cyclists out there, it’s simple – secure your bike properly and you’re far less likely to be targeted.”
A 34-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident and is currently facing 17 similar charges.