Peddling stolen goods

There has been a huge increase in bicycle theft in Cork county as gangs target high-end bikes.

Bicycle theft has increased substantially over the past year, particularly in the last few months of 2019, figures from the Cork County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) have revealed. Statistics detailed a sharp increase in bike theft, with thieves specifically targeting owners of high-end bikes, in the North and West Cork regions.

A joint operation by gardaí from the north and west divisions has targeted the gangs and brought a number of bike thieves to court.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan said: “They are gangs targeting high-end bikes, bikes made from carbon fibre and other expensive materials. They were previously operating in the city but have moved out into the county.” While bike thefts in the inner city decreased slightly in 2019 compared to 2018, thefts in the north and west divisions saw numbers double in 2019.

The value of the bikes can range into thousands of euro, and gardaí believe the gangs are specifically targeting owners with pre-planned thefts.

Gardaí have been using Twitter, Facebook, and other social media to try and return recovered bicycles to their original owners.

In light of the increase, bike owners have been asked to take appropriate precautions such as locking up their bike securely, and taking note of the serial number in case of theft.

“Bike owners need to ensure their bikes are locked up securely and kept out of sight,” concluded Superintendent Cadogan.