Approximately eighty bicycles are being put up for sale after being held in the police force’s lost property department. The auction will take place on 5th June at 11:00. The bikes were all found abandoned in the capital region, and all remain unclaimed by their owners. The auction will be held outdoors, by Askalind 2a in Kópavogur.

Last year, around 700 stolen bicycle reports were filed with the police in the capital area. What has happened to the majority of them is unclear, but around 180 of them ended up in the hands of the police department. Most of these bikes turn up a few months after the original theft report was filed. It is not usually enough for an owner to go the police straight after their bicycle was stolen, they must also return a few weeks later to confirm whether their bike has ended up in police possession.

The auctioning off of the bikes highlights the need for owners to park their bikes in a secure a place as possible, never leaving them unchained. If the worst happens and the bike is stolen, it is best for the owner to provide the serial number of the bike to the police. This advice was issued by the police force, who say that it makes it easier for them to return the bicycle to its correct owner.

The police bicycle storage unit for the capital area is located at Borgartún 7b, and is open on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 12:00. Here stolen bicycle reports can be filed if the vehicle is not in the storage unit. The storage unit for abandoned bicycles is located at Hverfisgata 113–115 in Reykjavík.

Source: mbl.is

Labels: Crime, Transport