| Riders who have bike insurance policies who want to | | | | minutes. Newcastle was next at two hours and 25 |
| avoid having their premiums increased because they | | | | minutes, with Norwich following at two hours and 34 |
| claim on their policy are being advised to take extra | | | | minutes. According to official figures from the |
| safety precautions in securing their vehicles. With | | | | government, Norfolk, Norwich has seen an average |
| Britain seeing brighter days this year, the number of | | | | of six bikes stolen each day for the past 12 years. |
| British travelling on two wheels is expected to soar. | | | | Michael Dale, the chair of Norwich Cycling Campaign, |
| As with the recession is leaving more people across | | | | said: "People do need to make sure their bike is |
| Britain strapped for cash, an increase in bike thefts is | | | | secure before they leave it, but there are also too |
| expected to follow. Bike thieves working efficiently | | | | few cycling racks in Norwich. "Norwich is one of the |
| during crunch According to Government figures, | | | | poorest places for cycle provision, and if we want |
| 300,000 bikes are stolen each year throughout the | | | | people to get on their bikes and come into Norwich |
| country. Recent research from an insurance provider | | | | to do their shopping, that needs to be improved." |
| has revealed shocking figures of the "efficiency and | | | | Manchester came eighth at two hours and 57 |
| expertise" of bike thieves. The insurance provider, | | | | minutes followed by Bristol and Liverpool where |
| More Than, conducted a test which studied 10 of the | | | | thieves took over three hours to get their hands on |
| major cities in the UK, to see how long it takes | | | | the bikes. Bike insurance essential Pete Markey, the |
| thieves to ride off with an unlocked bike. The aim of | | | | marketing director of More Than said: "The |
| the test was to highlight the importance of securing | | | | experiment has shown us that it doesn't matter who |
| a bike properly. It revealed that the biggest hotspot | | | | you are or where you live, if you don't take the |
| for bike theft is in south-east London, where bikers | | | | necessary precautions, it's only a matter of time |
| are more likely to have their bike stolen compared to | | | | before your bike is stolen." He stated that bikers |
| any other major city in Britain. A bike lasted for just | | | | should pay close attention to keeping their bikes |
| 17 minutes before being stolen at the London Bridge | | | | secured when leaving it unattended and advised |
| railway station. Glasgow came second where the bike | | | | them to make sure they take out insurance in the |
| stood unlocked for an hour and 30 minutes before | | | | event of having their bike stolen. He said: "It really |
| being stolen, while Birmingham - which came third, the | | | | does make sense then to ensure your bike is |
| bike was stolen after one hour and 55 minutes. Bike | | | | secured properly to an immovable object before you |
| theft hotspots continue Cardiff was named the | | | | leave it unattended, and to think about taking out |
| fourth biggest hotspot at two hours and 10 minutes, | | | | insurance cover just in case the worst should happen. |
| followed by Portsmouth at two hours and 12 | | | | |