High-value stolen bikes recovered by Hackney cops

Success of new police unit showing after just two weeks

Two cops charged with cracking down on bike thieves in Hackney have reunited 14 bikes with their rightful owners in their first two weeks on the case.

PC Maz Lovegrove and PC Nicola Irvine, who make up Hackney’s Cycle Crime Unit, recovered nine high-value stolen bikes worth about �6,000 in total.

PC Lovegrove said: “Cycling in Hackney is more popular than ever but unfortunately all too often bikes are seen as a soft target for thieves looking to make money.”

The PCs, who are encouraging cyclists to register their frames with the seller as well as online at www.immobilise.com, have donated 68 recovered bikes to organisations such as the therapy and life skills service at the City & Hackney Centre for Mental Health in Homerton Row.

Suzanne Smith, the service’s head occupational therapist, said: “We are so grateful for this donation as the service users have been requesting this resource for a while now. It will benefit them greatly, as physical health and exercise is seen as of primary importance for mental health and wellbeing.”

To contact Hackney’s Cycle Crime Unit, email hackneycyclecrimeunit@met.police.uk.