Leeds bike thefts fall 15% as owners urged to get cycles marked

Police urge cyclists to have their bikes marked to deter thieves

Bike thefts in Leeds have fallen by more than 15% over the last year, according to police figures.

Residents are being urged to have their bikes registered at marking events to continue the downward trend.

West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council have joined forces to hold bike-marking events across the city.

Police said that over the last 12 months, 1,137 bikes were stolen, compared to 1,345 the previous year, a decrease of 15.5%.

Force Crime Prevention Officer Paul Denison said marking bikes acted as a deterrent to thieves.

He said: "It makes your bike harder to sell on and therefore much less attractive a prospect."I would urge bicycle owners to join us at one of the regular bike-marking events where you can get your bike added to the National BikeRegister."

Across West Yorkshire as a whole, bike thefts dropped from 2,220 to 1,938 (12.7%) over the last year.

West Yorkshire Police is now planning similar partnerships with Bradford Council and Wakefield Council.