SINGAPORE: Over the last three years, there have
been an average of two to three bicycle thefts reported every day
and authorities said it's a rising trend.
From January to March this year, police data showed
that the number of such thefts compared with the same period last
year, went up by about 200.
In 2009, there were 1,071 cases of bike thefts. This
dropped significantly to 719 in 2010. But rose to 1,137 cases last
year.
To curb it, Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council has joined hands with
the police to find ways to deter bike thefts.
They've come up with enhanced bicycle locks on the racks to prevent
thieves from cutting them.
The first step is to pick up the key, then put it through the hole
before locking it up.
With the new design, the bicycle owners just need to lock the back
tyre to secure their bikes.
Currently, 113 bike racks have been installed at the void decks of
10 blocks in Nee Soon South.
Lee Bee Wah, MP, Nee Soon GRC, said: "We have feedback from the
residents that there are bicycle thefts, in fact, not just to Nee
Soon South.
"It happens throughout Singapore and I'm very happy that police has
responded positively on looking into ways to reduce bicycle
thefts.
"So, in fact two years ago, we rolled out the engravement on the
bicycle itself and now, this is additional measure to cut down
bicycle thefts."
- CNA/ck