A POLICE campaign is being launched to slash the number of bike thefts in Crewe and Nantwich.

As a part of the Safer Wheels initiative, cyclists will be offered free security marking for their bikes, together with a car-style logbook.

Crime reduction adviser at Crewe Police Station Mark Cotton said: "Crewe and Nantwich have always been 'bike towns', probably because the flat landscape makes cycling easier than other places.

"Unfortunately that means an above-average number of cycles are stolen or lost, but we can do something about that."

Mark, together with Hayley Goodwin the area's watch co-ordinator, will be security-marking bikes with a special code number at three sessions in the town centres.

The code and the cycle's frame number are entered on to a central database held by bikeregister.com.

The owner is then sent a logbook for the bike, similar to a car registration document.

There is also a sticker, which can be fitted to the cycle, warning any potential thief that it is security-coded.

Mark added: "The evidence is that it is an effective deterrent to thieves.

"They know that if they are caught with the bike there is clear proof that it doesn't belong to them. It also means a stolen bike is less saleable.

"The kits normally cost £9.99, but the Crewe and Nantwich Safer Communities Partnership has funded this scheme and I can offer the service free for 300 people.

"Each session will be on a first come first served basis.

"We always have a lot of recovered bikes in store at the Police station.

"A large proportion of those were not reported missing and are never claimed. In view of what bikes cost these days that is really surprising.

"We would always urge anyone whose bike is stolen to report the fact. But if they security-code it and register it, it will be less likely to disappear."

The sessions will be held on August 5 and 19 on the Town Square in Crewe between 11am and 2pm and at the same time on Nantwich Square on August 12.