Coronavirus bike thefts: Stonnington police to crack down following 32 per cent rise

Bike thefts are surging in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. And police believe it may be down to how owners — and criminals — have responded to COVID-19.

Bike thefts rose by 32 per cent in Stonnington from June-October in 2020. Picture: Supplied.

Bike thefts soared in inner city suburbs during Melbourne’s lockdown, with police believing lifestyle changes due to the coronavirus outbreak led to the alarming rise.

And officers have revealed a shed at Prahran police station is packed out with stolen and unidentified bikes, with about 50 sitting in there at any given time.

According to Stonnington police, 135 bikes were stolen in its service area from June to October, a 32 per cent rise from the 102 swiped during the same period in 2019.

Malvern police Sergeant Purdie Long said bike thefts had notably risen in the suburb, as well as in South Yarra and Prahran.

She said Stonnington’s railway stations, Prahran’s Jam Factory and Monash University’s Caulfield campus, near Malvern East, had also been identified as hot spots.

Sgt Long said the bike theft spike “could be a result of the recent lifestyle change bought on as a result of COVID, with more people using cycling as a means of transport to avoid public transport”.

“People are also working from home, using their free time or lunch break to exercise on their bike and with family members on weekends,” she said.

Sgt Long suggested bike users use solid metal D locks, secured them to parking infrastructure and removed accessories to minimise theft opportunities.

She also suggested owners take photos of their bikes and engrave license and serial numbers to help recover them if they are stolen.

Prahran acting Senior Sergeant Neil Neil Schlittler said 50 or more unidentified or recovered bikes were stored at the police station’s bike shed at any given time.

He said the collection included plenty of high-end bikes valued at up to $10,000.

“People spend $5000-10,000 for a bike, then they buy a $10 bike lock and they get stolen,” Sen-Sgt Schlittler said.

“It is constant, and we have to hold the property until the courts tell us what to do with it.”

Sen-Sgt Schlittler said police would conduct a local operation in the coming months targeting would-be thieves, which would involve “using technology and surveillance devices to identify and apprehend those stealing bikes while they are in the act”.

He said Stonnington’s bike patrol would also ramp up its presence during summer and patrol for offenders in prominent gathering areas.

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