The Police Cycle Crime Unit is reporting a degree of success in its continuing fight against bike theft.

A total of 92 cycles were stolen during December 1999. This represents a decrease from the comparable period in 1998 where 106 cycles were stolen and a decrease to November 1999 figures where 126 cycles were stolen.

Pembroke parish remains in the forefront of cycle theft with 36 cycles reported stolen last month (December), 23 of that total occurred in the City of Hamilton.

Several proactive measures to use CCTV as a deterrent against cycle crime are now under review.

For the entire 12-month period of 1999, there were 1,224 cycles reported stolen.

The average cost of a cycle is approximately $3,000, meaning the value of stolen cycles for 1999 was in excess of $3.5 million. One hundred and forty eight of the stolen cycles were recovered. They were worth an estimated $267,000.

Police continue to advise cycle owners in particular to have their vehicles U-marked (free of charge at any Police Station.

CHART