BTP appeal for information after cycle stolen from train between Cardiff/Bristol

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER CYCLE STOLEN FROM TRAIN BETWEEN CARDIFF AND BRISTOL

British Transport Police (BTP) officers investigating the theft of a bicycle from on board a train between Cardiff and Bristol are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

Officers have today released a CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) image of a man they believe will have information which can assist the investigation into the theft.

PC Jason Teear, investigating officer, said the theft took place on board the 1430hrs Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service on Friday 1 April 2011.

PC Teear said: ^The 21-year-old victim boarded the train at Cardiff Central and placed his silver mountain bike, which has distinctive yellow forks, in the cycle rack in the vestibule area of the carriage. When he went to leave the train at Fareham railway station in Hampshire, he discovered his bike was missing from the cycle racks.

^After viewing CCTV image from on board the train, we would like to identify and speak to the man in this photograph as we believe he will have information which can assist. The man we would like to speak to boarded the train at Cardiff Central rail station and got off at Filton Abbey Wood station in Bristol around 45 minutes later, at 3.15pm.

^I would urge anyone who knows this man^s identity, or his current whereabouts, to contact British Transport Police straight away.^

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident number B7/WWA of 27/05/2011, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Edit note: Images now removed due to expiry of copyright permission. CfN

[Cruithne3753]

Even before seeing this, as I'm planning to take my bike to Cardiff in the next week or two, I've already decided to make sure it's not out of my view.

[JayMac]

You can always try to lock it to some part of the bicycle stowage area if it's going to be out of view. Or even just locking a wheel to the frame - that can act as a suitable deterrent. Not many chancers will want to carry an immobilised bike off a train. That's what I used to do when taking a bike with me on train journeys.

[Brucey]

Class 158s have bicycle wheel wedges (not quite sure of their real name) in the vestibules.  Make sure you lock a non-quick release wheel to this if you are leaving the bike unattended.

[IainH]

Unfortunately, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and other train companies ask that you do not lock your bike to the train

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=80

Do not lock bikes to anything in the train
If you lose the keys, we can't delay the train to remove the cycle.

Interesting dilemma!

[JayMac]

Well, if you do lose the key then your bike ain't going nowhere except to the depot!

Chances of losing a key after boarding are pretty minuscule anyway. Said key will be somewhere on the train!

On a slightly related note, I did once visit the booking office at Bristol TM^‡(resolve), leaving my bike leaning against the window. After sorting my tickets I proceeded to my train and was halfway to Taunton before I realised I hadn't locked my bike up on platform 3 at BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains). Fortunately BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) had found it before any chancer and removed it to BRI's lost property office!

[devon_metro]

When I transported my bike by train I locked it up. Good job i'm competent enough to look after a key...

[super tm]

What happens if the key / lock breaks.  Had that happen once.  Passenger wanted to get off at Stroud. The bike stayed on the train until it got back to Swindon where some bolt croppers were available.  Thats why you cannot lock the bike to the train.  Certainly lock up the wheels so it is unrideable.

On an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) its much less likely to be stolen because it is stored in a non public area.  If anyone is really concerned I advise them to sit in A and keep a look out at each station.  With the wheels locked you should be able to chase them down as they carry it along the platform 

[Cruithne3753]

Here's an idea: Why can't the train have a bar you can lock your bike to, but in case of the aforementioned key loss or breakage problems, the bar is unlockable by the guard/train manager?

Will be locking a wheel to the frame in any case.

[super tm]

But that would require the guard to come down to the bike space causing delay.  Also another reason for not allowing you to lock you bike to the train is that it causes delay as you unlock it.  Only seconds maybe but they all add up when you are trying to keep trains running on time.

[ChrisB]

The next thing we'll hear is a cyclist complaining that the guard wouldn't hold a train while they fiddled around getting their bike unlocked....