Victims of cycle theft in Newark are being encouraged to apply for a free GPS cycle tracker as part of an initiative to reduce crime and improve the lives and safety of residents.

A crackdown on burglary, vehicle crime and bicycle theft is underway as part of a £550k joint project led by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Paddy Tipping.

The PCC secured funding from the Home Office’s £25m Safer Streets Fund in July and is working closely with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire County Council to improve the lives of people living in the Chatham Court and Northgate areas of the town.

A package of measures are currently making headway including new and improved street lighting, new ANPR and CCTV cameras, cycle security marking and environmental improvements.

High quality GPS cycle trackers have been purchased as part of the project, for 60 residents meeting the criteria of the scheme.

Eligible residents must either:

Regularly travel into and around Newark by cycle and have been a victim of cycle theft in the last three years, and;
Bikes should have cost between £300 and £1,000 when purchased.

Or

Live within the Chatham Court and Northgate areas of Newark (within a specific postcode radius identified by the Police and Council) and;
Bikes should have been purchased within the last 12 months, costing between £300 and £1,000 when purchased.
Owners will need access to a smart phone to track the device.

Extra weight will be given to those whose bike is their only form of transport.

To apply, residents should contact the Safer Streets Team at Newark and Sherwood District Council by emailing community.safety@nsdc.info who will inform them if they have been successful.

Trackers consist of a small, lightweight accessory and link to a smartphone app, enabling the owner to trace the bike – even using it to alert the police to where the bike is being kept.

Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Security measures, in particular GPS trackers, can be extremely effective and the devices we’ve selected have been trialed on their efficiency.

“We know that having a bike stolen can be devastating for cyclists, many of whom cherish their bike and may have spent a lot of money on it.

“We take cycle theft very seriously and alongside regular bike marking events, the trackers are just one of a number of specific tactics to combat cycle theft as part of the Safer Streets Project.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: “The Safer Streets funding has enabled us to invest in state-of-the-art technology and security which will make a meaningful difference to people’s lives and their safety.

“The GPS trackers are just one of a number of innovative measures we are supporting to help detect crime and apprehend those offenders who continue to inflict misery on the streets of Newark. I would urge cycle owners who meet the criteria to come forward as soon as possible to take advantage of this unique opportunity and help safeguard their property in the future.”

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Heather Sutton, who covers the Newark area for Nottinghamshire Police Force, said: “The theft of a bike is not a crime that should be tolerated. For some people not having their bike can have an enormous impact as may make the difference between someone being able to get to work or school.

“That is why as a force Nottinghamshire Police welcomes anything which can be done to prevent bike theft which is why this is a key strand of the Safer Streets initiative for Newark. These trackers will help in the tracking of the bike in the event they are stolen, but they will also act as a deterrent to any would-be thieves.”

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