STOLEN BICYCLES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 231, 28 March 1912, Page 3

STOLEN BICYCLES

THE ANNUAL TALE IN CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, March 25. There are probably few cities in the world in which more bicycles are in use in proportion to the population than in Christchurch, and it is therefore not remarkable that a very large number of bicycles are annually reported as lost or stolen. Last year the number of missing bicycles reported to the police was' over 300, and if the average value be taken as £5, a conservative estimate, £ISOO worth of property took to itself wings in that year alone. The average is being well maintained during the present year. The majority 'of these missing bicycles have disappeared under circumstances that leave no room for doubt that they have been stolen. Only a small proportion are recovered. The police can hardly be blamed for this state 'of affairs, for the average cyclist is deplorably careless. Bicycles worth anything from £3 to £2O are left for hours unguarded in the streets, even at night, and it is surprising that thefts are not more, frequent. Rome bicycle ownere do not even trouble to inform the police of their loss or make any inquiries with a view to the recovery of their proprerty. In the "found bicycles" room at the Christchurch police station at present there are forty or fifty bicycles which have been found oil the streets or in vacant sections. Occasionally even a motor cycle finds its way into the hands of the police without inquiry from the owner. It has been suggested (says the Star) that there are one or nrore regular small factories in Christchurch where stolen bicycles are received and altered beyond recognition by the interchange of parts and in other ways. Another conjecture is that many stolen bicycles are exported to receivers in other centres. There is no evidence of wholesale or organised bicycle stealing, but the rarity with which stolen bicycles are recovered suggests some degree of experience on the part of (hose responsible for their disappearance. ;