Buckie registration session helps beat the bike thieves
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HELPING beat the bike thieves was the name of the game at a session held outside Buckie Leisure Centre.
Bike owners young and old alike were invited to make an appointment to drop by the police-run event and have their bike registered with BikeRegister, UK's national cycle database.
Similar registration events were also held in Elgin and Forres.
Running the session on Saturday, May 1 was Buckie Community Officer PC Rachel Barclay.
"It went very well, we had lots of very positive feedback," she said.
"There was a wide range of ages as well as all types of bikes
"Between the three events 180 bikes were marked with tamper-proof QR stickers.
"Since Covid there's been a lot of interest in cycling and people buying bikes, and with that there's been an increase in bike thefts, both from property and from open locations.
"There are some basic things bike owners can do to help protect themselves from bike theft. Firstly, get your bike security marked and registered. BikeRegister is the database used by police across the UK.
"Always keep your bike in a safe location. Keep you bike secured if you have to leave it in an open location."
Funding for the event was from Paths For All through Moray Council, Tesco in Buckie sponsored the event and provided refreshments and Coast 'n' Cruise also assisted in Buckie with the maintenance side of things.
PC Barclay is also preparing to hold a series of mobile surgeries later this month.
She will be in Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty and Portgordon over May 26-27.
It will give local residents the opportunity to discuss any community issues or concerns they may have but also participate in a free crime reduction survey.
Cullen will be the first port of call on Wednesday, May 26, with the mobile unit heading for the Millennium Square between 11.30am and 12.30pm.
Later on the same day PC Barclay will be at Seafield Terrace in Portknockie between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
The following day is the turn of Findochty and Portgordon. In the case of the former village the mobile unit will be at Seafield Raod from 11.30am to 12.30pm before heading for Stewart Street in Portgordon for 1.30pm, where it will remain until 2.30pm.
