Isle residents urged to keep their belongings safe with Immobilise

They will also be giving away cycle security items at information sessions.

The drop-in information sessions will be held at range of venues over the coming weeks. Safer Neighbourhoods and the Police will focus on cycle security at these sessions in a bid to lower the number of cycle thefts and reduce non-dwelling burglaries.

They will be giving out free advice at the sessions and security items including:

Bike/scooter alarms

Bike locks

Shed alarms

Padlock alarms

Warning stickers

UV pens

Ground anchors

High-vis cycle security seat covers

Items will be given away on a first come, first serve basis. There will be items for each of the sessions, but they are expected to go very quickly.

The sessions will be on:

Wednesday 22 April at King William pub car park, Scawby Brook from 5pm to 7pm. This is at the Lincsquad Time Trial event.

27 April at Baysgarth Leisure Centre, Barton in the reception area from 4pm to 7pm.

28 April at The Pods, Scunthorpe in the reception area from 4pm to 7pm.

1 May at Ancholme Leisure Centre, Brigg from 4pm to 7pm.

5 May at Epworth Leisure Centre from 4pm to 7pm.

Between December 2013 and February 2014 there were 125 recorded offences of bikes being stolen in North Lincolnshire. Between December 2014 and February 2015 this figure dropped to 115. However the value of thefts has risen by nearly by £6,000 to over £87,000.

With the Tour De France last year and the Tour De Yorkshire this year it is important that this figure doesn’t increase with more and more people taking up cycling.

At the sessions residents will be encouraged to register their valuables on the free Immobilise website to deter thieves, hinder criminal dealers and overall reduce theft. More importantly it can keep your cherished belongings, equipment and invaluable memories safe.

Immobilise is a free national property database that stickers your belongings, home, car and bike. The website allows you to be reunited with belongings if they are ever lost or stolen.

People who set up an Immobilise account will need to have an email address and will need to register one item with a serial number to set-up the account. The easiest item to register that has a serial number is a mobile phone.

At the sessions those that receive free cycle security products will be asked to register them on the Immobilise website. With the aim of the sessions to try reduce cycle theft and non-dwelling burglaries.

Kay Aisthorpe, Safer Neighbourhoods Commissioning and Policy Manager said: “We have already held a number of sessions with Humberside Police to raise awareness of the Immobilise website and how important it is for people to register their valuables. These have been very successful. Immobilise not only gives people peace of mind, but it helps deter thieves.

“We are now focusing on cycle security to encourage more people to ensure their bikes are stored securely and people do all they can to deter thieves. Even though the figures for the number of bike thefts have gone down, the value of the bikes is increasing. No amount of bike thefts is acceptable and we want this figure to continue decreasing. Therefore it is important that people are proactive when it comes to safety of their belongings.

“It can be a very upsetting time if you lose or have any of belongings stolen, but by registering them on the Immobilise website you have more of a chance of them being returned. This is why we are encouraging to be one step ahead by registering their belongings with Immobilise.

“Pop along to any of the sessions to find out more about Immobilise, how to get started and grab some free cycle security items. We are giving these away on a first come, first serve basis though so make sure you don’t miss out.”

Keep check of your valuables by registering them on the Immobilise website: www.humberside.police.uk/immobilise.

If any of your items that have been registered get lost or stolen you can update the status of the item on the website. This will then enable the Police to identify owners of recovered lost or stolen property.

Items that you can register range from jewellery and mobile phones to bikes and laptops. Almost any item can be registered with Immobilise in minutes.

Thieves can be more easily identified if they steal registered goods. Also if you mark the belongings up with the labels then potential thieves may not want to take them in the first place.

If your item is stolen inform the police and then visit: www.humberside.police.uk/immobilise to update your items status. If your property is recovered by the police, it can be traced back to you.

The police also regularly check second-hand dealers and car boot sales to find out if any items on sale have been registered and reported stolen. As a result items can be returned and thieves and criminal dealers prosecuted.