The following is from WEST Midlands Police and benefits constituents who have 125cc Motorbikes
Motorbike marking a UK first
WEST Midlands Police are the first force in the UK to offer free motorcycle
DNA marking for cyclists in a bid to beat bike thieves.
Thieves are stealing 125cc motorcycles and breaking them up for parts. The parts, which are not individually marked, are then sold on making them difficult to trace and, if recovered, hard to reunite with their owners.
In what is believed to be the first initiative of its kind in the UK, the Force have teamed up with six motorcycle dealers across the region to offer free DNA motorcycle marking.
Each of the dealers has 150 marking kits, paid for by money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The kits, which normally retail at about £30, consist of a bottle of DNA fluid, with which each part of the bike is painted. This fluid dries and is not detectable by eye but contains micro dots that are then unique to that bike.
The motorcycle dealers will mark the motorbikes for free and then register each bike on a dedicated website. If the bike or any part of it is then stolen and later recovered anywhere in the world officers will be able to identify the owner and gather much needed intelligence about where these stolen bikes are being traded.
To take advantage of this free offer, motorbike owners simply need call one of the dealers taking part in the scheme and make an appointment to visit them and get their bike marked.
Dealers taking part in the scheme are:
“ I would encourage as many people across the force who own 125cc motorcycles to take advantage of this offer and make appointments soon to get their bikes marked.”
Thieves are stealing 125cc motorcycles and breaking them up for parts. The parts, which are not individually marked, are then sold on making them difficult to trace and, if recovered, hard to reunite with their owners.
In what is believed to be the first initiative of its kind in the UK, the Force have teamed up with six motorcycle dealers across the region to offer free DNA motorcycle marking.
Each of the dealers has 150 marking kits, paid for by money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The kits, which normally retail at about £30, consist of a bottle of DNA fluid, with which each part of the bike is painted. This fluid dries and is not detectable by eye but contains micro dots that are then unique to that bike.
The motorcycle dealers will mark the motorbikes for free and then register each bike on a dedicated website. If the bike or any part of it is then stolen and later recovered anywhere in the world officers will be able to identify the owner and gather much needed intelligence about where these stolen bikes are being traded.
To take advantage of this free offer, motorbike owners simply need call one of the dealers taking part in the scheme and make an appointment to visit them and get their bike marked.
Dealers taking part in the scheme are:
- Highway Motorcycles, Wolverhampton, 01902 773608
- Black Country Motorcycles, Dudley Port, 0121 522 2525
- Streetbike, Halesowen, 0121 506 6800
- Sheldon Motorcycles, Birmingham, 0121 743 3506
- Kestrel Honda, Coventry, 024 7670 3900
- Birmingham Kawasaki, 0121 374 2895
“ I would encourage as many people across the force who own 125cc motorcycles to take advantage of this offer and make appointments soon to get their bikes marked.”
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