High number of bike thefts leaves inner-city cyclists on edge

A surge of bicycle thefts in Auckland’s inner-city suburbs is frustrating residents.

Police enquiries supervisor, Daniel Wright, confirmed the equivalent of two bikes a week were reported stolen in the first six weeks of the year in the inner city.

Mr Wright said the incidents are random and opportunistic, with bikes being stolen from both public and private properties.

In responses to a post on Neighbourly.co.nz, Te Waha Nui found at least nine residents in the Ponsonby area had been impacted by the regular thefts.

Cyclist and community volunteer Ellen Schindler said her bike was double locked when it was stolen in broad daylight from Mount Eden a month ago.

Ms Schindler said the thief cut both locks with a bolt cutter and believes the theft was premeditated.

Another victim of the recent spate of thefts, Kingsland resident Lucy Lancashire, said two bikes were stolen from her property earlier this month.

She said although the bikes were not locked, they were well hidden and at the back of her property when they were taken during the night.

She said it was unsettling someone went to such lengths to steal them. “Auckland’s quite a rough city sometimes.”

Bike Auckland chairperson Barbara Cuthbert said with a dramatic increase in the number of people cycling from inner-city suburbs, it was no surprise more bikes were being stolen.

Both Mr Wright and Ms Cuthbert said cyclists needed to be vigilant when locking their bikes.

“If you’re really serious about your bike, you need a serious bike lock,” said Ms Cuthbert.

Mr Wright said high quality locks take longer to break, making perpetrators more likely to get caught in the act.

Both Miss Lancashire and Ms Schindler reported the thefts to police and were told to keep an eye on trading and cash converter websites.

Ms Cuthbert came close to losing her own bike three weeks ago.

The keen cyclist had to chase a man down the street to get it back after she leaned it against a fence in Devonport Wharf to take a phone call.

“I screamed blue murder and ‘Stop thief, that’s my bike’ . . . he rode about 100m then stopped, looking very sheepish, and gave my bike back.”

Ms Cuthbert said, “Auckland people are keen to ride bikes,” and that thefts will not discourage cyclists.

She hopes people will get continue to ride their bikes despite speculation around security.