Police hope ‘scarecrow’ bikes will put off thieves

So-called "scarecrow" bikes are being planted by police in the hope of deterring thieves.

The Welwyn Hatfield neighbourhood policing team have placed brightly-coloured bikes outside The Galleria shopping centre in Hatfield, as well as outside a supermarket and a swimming pool.

"We want the bikes to be a visible reminder to cyclists to ensure their bikes are secure," said PCSO Mark Randall, of Hertfordshire Police.

The bikes also display warnings to thieves that officers are patrolling nearby.

'Double lock it'

PCSO Randall offered some advice to cyclists.

He said: "A top tip is to double lock it. Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target.

"We recommend using two quality locks and at least one should be a D-lock.

"Thieves are less likely to carry multiple tools, so please use two different types of lock if possible."