A DISTURBING police report has revealed Christchurch as the epicentre of a bicycle theft epidemic in the east of the county.

Dorset police has decided to highlight the scale of the problem, which led to the arrest of one man recently, in a bid to shock cyclists into taking better precautions.

In 2003 94 bicycles disappeared from Christchurch and Highcliffe, more than half the total stolen in Dorset police's eastern division, which stretches from Walkford, up to Gillingham and as far south as Swanage.

And this alarming trend looks set to continue with 105 bicycle already reported missing in the town between January and August this year.

Police spokesman Anita Rigler said: "Bicycles continue to get stolen, but the time has come to highlight the scale of the problem. Over the past few weeks we have received numerous reports of secure bicycles being stolen from outside shops or businesses in the town."

She explained that the pattern of thefts peak in March, July and October, with nearly half of the thefts taking place from outside shops, 20 per cent from schools and 18 per cent at homes.

Peak times for the thefts are between midday and early evening on Mondays and Tuesdays, while Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays have the lowest levels.

According to the police only 36 per cent of the bikes stolen were locked and an incredible 50 per cent were left insecure.

The police have urged bicycle owners to note the serial number of their bikes and mark the frame with postcode and house number. They also advised cyclists to take a picture of their bike and secure to a solid object with the strongest locks available.

First published: August 20