Cyclists in Scotland urged to register their bikes to aid recovery

Cyclists in Scotland have been urged to register their bikes with a national database to help police find and return them in case of loss or theft.

The Bike Register has been available for several years, however, police officers can now access the database directly from their mobile devices – helping to streamline the identification process.

The new app allows any officer the opportunity to run the VIN number of any bike they locate to establish who the real owner is.

With Christmas just past and New Year coming up, people who have bought or received a new bike are being urged to upload their details to the database.

Sergeant Carly Bryce from Police Scotland’s Acquisitive Crime Team said: “Our partnership with Bike Register has been really successful over the years, allowing us to help the public mark and register their bikes, but up until recently whenever we came across a potentially lost or stolen cycle, we would have to contact Bike Register directly and get them to check if the bike was on the database.

“Thanks to the development of the app for police mobile devices, we can instantaneously carry out a check ourselves and if the bike is registered and found to be in the possession of someone who is not the owner, we can respond swiftly and appropriately.

“We know that bikes are an expensive commodity and the last thing anyone wants to think about it their valued present, training equipment or mode of transport being lost or stolen, but should such an issue arise, it’s really important that the bike is registered on the database.

“You can do so by visiting bikeregister.com.”