Bicycle Thefts

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there has been been a rise in the number of bicycle thefts over the past three years; and (b) what steps is the Ministry taking to address the problem of bicycle thefts.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: The number of bicycle theft cases reported over the last three years is as follows: 1,071 in 2009, 719 in 2010 and 989 in 2011 (January to November). There is no discernible rising trend.

The Police needs the cooperation of bicycle owners to do their part in preventing bicycle thefts. They are to purchase strong and reliable locks to secure their bicycles at designated bicycle bays. It is also important for the public to be vigilant in detecting and deterring crime, including thefts of bicycles.

The Police has adopted three initiatives to prevent bicycle thefts. First, Police has designed a new Bicycle Security Label with unique serial codes. The security labels are available free of charge at all Neighbourhood Police Centres. The Police is working with the National Crime Prevention Council to distribute these labels island-wide.

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Second, Police has tested the effectiveness of bicycle locks with alarms that go off when the locks are tampered or cut. A pilot study of the new lock was conducted in 2011 in areas under Tanglin Police Division's jurisdiction. During the pilot, bicycle theft cases in these areas decreased by 24% compared to the same period in 2010. Police is reviewing the results with the local community groups and will explore how this initiative can be rolled out to more areas.

Third, Police has been working with various infrastructure owners such as Town Councils, SMRT, LTA and private building owners to improve security at public bicycle parking bays. Sufficient lighting, installation of CCTVs, strong structures to secure the bicycle frames and front and rear wheels, and visible crime prevention posters will deter bicycle thefts at these publicly accessible places.

The Police will continue to work with local community groups and the media to educate bicycle owners on the steps they can take to secure their bicycles.