Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: Operation Venice officers at Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle show
The Metropolitan Police Service’s Operation Venice team, who tackle scooter, moped and motorcycle crime, are appearing at the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show at the ExCel Exhibition Centre, 16 to 18 February.
Officers will be engaging with members of the public and vehicle owners who visit their stand to talk about what the Met is doing to tackle scooter, moped and motorcycle theft and related crime and the risk of vehicle theft.
Also, on display will be the Met’s new BMW F700 GS (p) purpose built, lightweight motorcycle, and their DNA tagging spray which squirts an invisible identifying liquid.
In June 2017, the Met launched the ‘Be Safe’ campaign, which raises awareness with riders of what they can do to reduce the risk of their vehicle being stolen, focussing primarily on scooter riders, who are less likely to use strong security products.
In many cases, owners have inadequate security or no security at all on their scooters, making it easy for thieves to steal them and then use them to commit snatch and robbery offences. Security measures alone cannot guarantee two-wheeled vehicles will not be stolen, but every step taken makes them less attractive to a thief – vehicle owners are reminded to lock, chain and cover their bikes.
Commander Julian Bennett, the Met’s lead on scooter, moped and motorcycle crime, said: “Police are working hard to keep the public safe and make the streets hostile territory for criminals who steal scooters, mopeds and motorcycles and use them to snatch valuables from members of the public.
“We want to prevent the theft of scooters, mopeds and motorcycles in the first place so they can’t be used in the commission of further crime.
“Our presence at the Motorcycle Show puts us right amongst riders so we can engage with them, listen to what they have to say and directly advise them about properly securing their vehicles to reduce their risk of theft.”
“The more visible the security, the less visible your scooter is to thieves: adding extra security makes it harder for them to steal – always remember: Lock, Chain, Cover.”
Rebecca Donohue, Head of Marketing at Carole Nash, said: “Tackling the issue of bike theft is a cause that is close to our hearts, so we are delighted to welcome the Operation Venice team to the show. They are doing a lot of great work to help fight this ongoing issue and we know riders will appreciate the opportunity to discuss what can be done both by the police and by bikers themselves to limit the possibility of theft.
“Along with the rest of the motorcycle industry, we encourage the use of locks, chains and bike covers, as well as forensic tagging kits such as our own DNA+ which every policyholder receives. While we can never guarantee that thefts won’t take place, the riding community should take a range of measures to make it as difficult as possible for thieves.”
ADVICE: Whilst we are continually tackling this crime there is much the owners of mopeds and motorcycles can do themselves and the Met advises the following steps:
– Parking: Choose designated parking with a stand and security loop, or if this is not available try areas with lots of people, good lighting and CCTV.
– Locks: Use more than one lock, focusing on disc locks and chain locks, fitted tight to the bike and through difficult-to-remove parts.
– Time: When leaving your bike for a long period or overnight, lock it to something secure and use a motorbike cover. At home consider using fitted anchors to secure your bike.
– Attention: Use audible alarms where possible to draw unwanted attention to the thieves.
– Marking: Choose to mark your bike parts with the vehicle identification number (VIN) number, your postcode or registration number using an ultraviolet marker pen or property marking kit.
– Insurance: Some companies will offer discounts on your insurance if you invest in certain security measures, so ask before you make your purchase.
Details of the Met’s Be Safe campaign can be found at: https://www.met.police.uk/about-the-met/campaigns/be-safe-campaign/be-safe-scooter-theft/