of a micro-chip identification system.

Every bike can now be fitted with a $25 chip that holds information about the owner's name and address -- which can be picked up by Police using a hand-held scanner.

It is hoped the chips will be widely used and become another tool in the successful fight against bike thefts.

The chips could also be the first phase in greater use of technology which could eventually be deployed to track bikes around Bermuda.

Colonial Insurance, the Bermuda Police Service and Micro Track Systems have combined to offer the chips on the Island.

Yesterday Colonial's senior general manager William Madeiros said: "We are very pleased to have a stake in what we feel is the next step in controlling cycle thefts in Bermuda.

"Micro Track came to us some time ago with a proposal. We ran the proposal past the motorbike distributors and the Police and many months and trials later we can launch the system.'' When people buy a bike they can also ask to buy a micro chip which will be encoded with details including the owner's name and address, telephone numbers, an emergency contact number, the bike's engine and frame number, licence number and date of ownership.

The tiny chip is hidden somewhere in the bike by Micro Track and can be detected by a hand-held device which transmits a number back to a central Police computer storing the information.

Old bikes can also be fitted with the device if they contact Micro Track, Colonial Insurance or the Police.

Cycle thefts have fallen dramatically since 1994 when Police recorded 2,482 thefts.

Last year there were 1,919 thefts and so far this year, 1,008 bikes have been stolen -- worth about $2.25 million. So far this year 508 bikes have also been recovered.

Yesterday Insp. Archie Husbands, in charge of the Police crime prevention unit, said: "Some time last year the Commissioner saw this system and gave it his full approval.

"We are always interested in any device that will reduce the rate of crime in Bermuda and we think this system will help us tremendously.'' The system has already proved a success in the US and Europe where it has been widely used.

SMALL CHIPS: The micro chip which can now be encoded with the owner's details and fitted to motorbikes.

POLICE POL BUSINESS BUC