This Is How Quickly Your Bike Can Be Stolen

16 August 2018, 13:17 | Updated: 28 October 2019, 15:21

CCTV footage issued by Northamptonshire Police shows a man stealing a mountain bike in under 10 seconds.

Just because you've locked up your bike doesn't mean it's completely secure as this CCTV footage from Northamptonshire Police demonstrates.

The footage starts with a man riding up to a locked up Carrera Vengeance mountain bike.

He then disregards his own bike, takes out what appears to be bolt cutters, slices through the lock with ease and rides off.

The whole incident takes about 10 seconds.

The theft occurred at 7.49am on 17th July, outside Corby East Midlands International Pool.

Crime prevention officer Kate Bailey said: “This footage shows just how easily a thief can steal a bicycle, but it’s also easy to make your bike unattractive to opportunistic criminals by using high quality locks to secure it – the longer it takes and the harder it would be to steal, the less likely they are to target it.

She added: “When buying locks, look for products with a Sold Secure ‘Gold’ rating – this means they have been proven to provide the best protection against a range of attack techniques used by thieves.

“It’s also important to always lock your bike whenever you leave it, securing it through its frame and wheels to a fixed cycle stand, ideally in a busy, well-lit location.”