Dear Jean,

I hope you are well and a belated happy new year to you and the CCC. I just wanted to update you on our battle to catch the pedal cycle thieves of Camden. This week we had a trial of decoy bikes fitted with tracker systems placed in our hot spot areas for cycle theft. They were fairly average bikes of about £400 locked up with reasonable locks.

Over the three days we ran the operation, all three cycles were stolen within one hour of them being deployed. This we found quite alarming. However all three were recovered and persons arrested. We also achieved other aims of the operation. This was to identify those using pedal cycles to commit crime like burglary, robbery and theft from motor vehicles. We recovered property from a recent burglary in the house of one lad we arrested.

In addition to this we are some way to getting some of my team kitted out with cycle (uniform) gear. We have booked our training and the clothing is in the pipeline. We unfortunately only have use of what we call level one bikes. These are for street use only. I was hoping to come back to you later in the year to see if we can identify any sponsorship opportunities to purchase a couple of level two bikes. This will enable us to go off road and give chase to the youths who we know are committing most of the crime in Camden.

I hope to see the CCC soon when I get my new cycle uniform!!

Best wishes,

Barry Loader, Sector Sergeant, Kentish Town Team