A CYCLIST got his bicycle back after confronting a man he saw with his stolen bike - and now he wants to work with others to find a solution to a 'growing problem'.

Tom Neale said even if cyclists find safe riding routes in Worcester, there may be no safe place to leave their bikes. His own bike was stolen from the racks in Foregate Street in Worcester.

Worcester News: ACTION: Tom Neale wants to be involved in discussions about potential solutions to bike theft in Worcester after his own bike was stolen from outside Foregate Street Railway Station ACTION: Tom Neale wants to be involved in discussions about potential solutions to bike theft in Worcester after his own bike was stolen from outside Foregate Street Railway Station (Image: Supplied)

The 68-year-old of Bilford Road, Worcester, stressed he was 'not knocking the police', who he described as helpful and instrumental in reuniting him with his bike, but was eager to hear ideas to combat the issue.

He said: "The issue I have is that when you do use your bike there is a serious issue about finding a safe place to leave it. In July I had my bike stolen from the racks at Foregate Street Station.

"I was fortunate I spotted the miscreants with it the next day and after a confrontation and help from the police I got it back. It still cost me a new lock, panniers, lights and helmet gone forever.

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"We are told that a 'D' lock is the most secure yet they cut through it with a portable angle grinder. I cannot begin to describe how angry I was.

"Imagine then a few weeks later my wife daughter and myself go to the Worcester beer festival at the racecourse and secure our three bikes with seven locks each bike locked to the stand and to each of the other two bikes via frame and wheel. We missed my daughter's front wheel. It was gone.

"As annoying as this is, there seems to be no long-term plan. The indoor park in Crowngate is apparently the only 'safe' place to park but speaking to one of the security staff he tells me they do sometimes still get nicked.

"I saw on TV yesterday a feature on a facebook group in Cambridge ' Stolen Bicycles in Cambridge' . It has led to the recovery of many bikes, convictions and a drop in bicycle theft

"A bike was abandoned outside my house yesterday and most probably stolen. It's still here. I posted on Facebook WR3 and Worcestershire lost and found but that's it."

Dan Brothwell, chair of Bike Worcester, said he believed bike theft was a 'growing issue.' 

He said the Crowngate shopping centre provided the most secure bike storage in the city.

"It is absolutely the safest place to lock your bike," he said.

However, he also advised cyclists to record their frame number, take a photo of their bike and get it security marked to increase their chance of getting it back if it is recovered by police.

He advised bike owners not to lock their bicycles where there was low footfall or poor visibility and argued that Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council could also play a part in providing cycling parking, particularly in residential areas (including lockable bike hangers).

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "We understand the distress that bicycle theft can cause people in our community and we have a clear focus amongst our teams to reduce the number of bikes which are stolen.

"We encourage people to take advantage of our bike marking and Smartwater events that we provide across our communities with Bike Safe events and remind people that they can protect their property by using basic bike security."