With the welcomed summer weather many employees also found themselves leaving the car at home and cycling to their place of work which not only keeps them fit, but is a more economical and environmental way to travel.

However, the main concern for many bike owners is that they are seen as easy targets by thieves! Unfortunately, even with proper protection such as sturdy bike locks can be broken and chains cut by professional bike thieves and your 2-wheeled prized possession will be gone in a matter of seconds.

Apart from making your bike less attractive for bike thieves to nick, Crime Prevention Products have the perfect answer to your bikes security – The Bicycle Security Cycle Tracker – this simple device (which also doubles as a rear light) will track your bike anywhere in the world through a worldwide tracking system thus allowing you to log onto the relevant webpage and see where your bicycle is currently positioned.

This product is available for international shipping, furthermore clients can now pay in Euros or $US Dollars.

In recent years, upon hearing this news, we would have rushed to the nearest gym as well as trying some fad diet to help get our weight problem back on-track. However, finances are tight and gyms & fad diets ain’t cheap to sustain over a period of time.

When it comes to weight loss and getting fitter, one of the best ways is to ‘get on your bike’ and become part of the cycling revolution. So many of us are now finding that cycling is not only economically better but are steadily getting fitter as well as losing weight. It’s not unusual now to see whole families cycling around their local park.

One of the main problems, that we at Crime Prevention Products find, is that although we love our bicycles when it comes to protecting them we still find it a bit of a hassle. It hardly takes a few seconds to padlock and chain your bike to a secure railing or post. The alternative is, of-course, you’ll come back out from the local shop you just popped into for a few minutes to find your bike gone.

If you’re really serious about bicycle security from the genuine threat of bike theft then you cannot have better protection than the Bicycle Security Cycle Tracker. This clever device acts as a fully functional rear light, but the clever bit is that the tracker will send its location to a free worldwide online mapping website. If your bike happens to go missing then you’ll be able (with the help of the police) to recover your valuable possession.

You can read more about the benefits of the Bicycle Security Cycle Tracker here : www.c-p-p.co.uk/cycle-tracker

There are a few organisations that will help you find the perfect cycle route for you and your family. However, Sky have teamed up with British Cycling to create Sky Ride which will be hosting events all over the country to help encourage people back into the saddle. With the combination of good weather amidst higher fuel prices people are now finding that cycle power is a more economical way to travel to work as well as spending enjoyable cycling trips out with the family.

Yet, like everything else, BIKE THEFT – is a worrying trend to this pastime.

Halfords one of the major distributors of bikes have recently published a report on bike theft – using the freedom of information act and requests to each UK police force, Halfords obtained the latest cycle theft figures which stated that in 2010 there was a grand total of 115,147 bike thefts (reported). However according to the British Crime Survey the figure is more likely to be in the region of around 533,000 stolen bikes in a year. Meaning only about a fifth of us can’t be bothered to report their bike stolen.

To help prevent your bike from simply ‘riding off’ there are several bicycle security products that are available which will prevent your bike from simply ‘disappearing’. If you like your gadgets then consider purchasing a Bicycle Security Tracking Device which is cleverely designed as a fully functioning rear tail light that sends its location to a free worldwide online mapping website. Allowing you to send an SMS message to the tracker and it will reply with GPS coordinates of its location.

There is no doubt that cycling is the better option, not only for the rider but the planet as well, Cyclists are often seen as the clean, green, commuters-with-a-conscience type. However, it’s not all good news! There is a criminal element out there that love nothing better than making free money and bicycles are often seen as the easy option. Did you know, according to the Home Office, bicycles are described as a ‘hot product‘, meaning they are at the top of the list of desired items to steal by thieves.

So many of us simply abandon their beloved ‘two-wheeled mode of transport’ outside shops, in the front garden or left leaning against a lamp post while they quickly pop into the shops. It’s worth remembering that it only takes an opportunistic thief barely a few seconds to disappear with a bike.

Bike purchases can sometimes be an expensive acquisition which is why we’re offering advice on a few bicycle security tips to help keep your bike safe from simply riding off.

• Never leave your bike unsecured and unattended, even if you’re in a shop and can see it from the window, it only takes seconds for someone to snatch it.
• Take a note of the security number, this will be helpful if it is recovered by the Police.
• Purchase a good quality bike security alarm, this will often deter even the most boldest of opportunistic thieves.
• If you keep you’re bicycle locked in a shed or garage overnight think about securing your bike with a chain or lock to an internal wall or difficult to move object

Traditionally, as the weather starts to heat up we find a good number of the British public ‘getting on their bikes’ making cycling one of the most popular transport methods. Unfortunately, as the number of people on bikes increases so does the number of bike thefts. Every year thousands of bikes are stolen as people simple don’t think about their bike safety, in-fact a study by the insurance company Direct Line suggested that about 440,000 bikes are stolen by thieves each year (source).

Here at Crime Prevention Products we like to see people out and about on their bikes whether it’s going to work or enjoying a family day in the local park. However, we can also see that not many people give the security or protection of their bikes a second thought. We, at Crime Prevention Products, would like to remind people if you’re out and about on your bikes use a good quality bike lock/alarm and secure it through various points of your bike then onto an immoveable object, even if you are just popping into the local shop for a ice cream. Think bike security – if you don’t lock it, then be prepared to lose it!

Most of us know that we do carry a few extra pounds and need to exercise more, but if your like me, then you don’t like to be told you must take action ‘Now’ but prefer to accomplish things in your own time.

If and when I’m ready to start my new ‘healthy me’ regime then my preference will be Cycling. Cycling not only helps you get fit but it’s also a great way to meet new friends. Cycling also helps you explore alternative ways into your work instead of the tedious ‘A’ roads and motorway tailbacks you meet on a daily basis as you drive to your workplace. However, one of the biggest problems is that when you leave your car at home or you bike at work it becomes vulnerable to opportunistic thieves.

Help protect your possessions by using some of the Vehicle and Cycle security products available from www.c-p-p.co.uk.

Once you have made the decision to ‘get on your bike’ there are several precautions that you have to ensure:

• Know your route
• Try to stay away from busy roads, cycle routes are available in most towns.
• If you have not been on your bike for a few years it may be wise to have a few practise runs first, we all know the saying “It’s like riding a bike” however many people get confused and scared when approaching busy streets overloaded with cars, lorries and buses.

Once you have made it safely to your destination what are you going to do with your bike? With all that preparation did you think about bike security? There are several safety devices that can be used to ensure that you are not left walking home on your return journey.

David Cameron knows only too well that bike crime is a major problem in many of our towns and cities. Cameron had his ‘old friend’ stolen from a very public place and then had the British media reporting his loss with glee. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 bikes are reported stolen every year in the UK. Protecting your possessions can be easy, if you know how! There are many precautions that be done to deter thieves from trying to steal your bike, here are some of the best ones…

1. As most bikes are stolen from your own property lock it in a secure shed or garage out of site, also chain it up inside your shed or garage for double security.

2. Security mark the frame, there are many products on the market from ‘smart water’ to UV marking pens theses products are ideal for writing your address and post code.

3. If you are out and about always secure your bike with a quality bike security alarm, even if you have to leave it for less than 1 minute.

4. Secure it to a non removable object or a properly fitted bike rack.

5. Secure it with a hardened steel D-shaped padlock as a minimum protection.

6. When you lock up your bike try your hardest to keep the lock out of easy reach, this makes it harder for the criminals to smash the lock open.

7. When securing your bike try to incorporate both wheels again this will stop your wheels from being stolen.

Many people have now taken out extra insurances to cover their bikes, but by following these simple precautions hopefully you and your bike will be together for many years to come.

The Cable Bicycle Alarm is an innovative device suitable for securing virtually any bike from theft. The Cable Bicycle Alarm has an ear piercing siren that will startle thieves and make them think twice about hanging around while this alarm is shrieking. When an attempt is made to cut through its ultra hard steel cable, or attack the main lock unit, the alarm is triggered, sending an ear peircing shrill of 120 decibels and also has a bright red flashing light.

The Chaperone Bike Alarm is able to determine when movement or possible theft is detected, it sounds a loud warning. If the theft or movement continues, the Chaperone bike alarm will continually sound.The alarm emits a very loud 130 decibels.