CYCLE thieves are being told to get on their bike in Thurrock by cops who are offering help to owners.

The borough has seen an increasing number of pedal cycle thefts in recent weeks, with bikes taken from the street and even people’s own back yards.

But police are now pedalling all out to combat the problem.

For an hour every day for the next three months bike owners will be able to have their bikes security marked and labelled free of charge.

They will also be given a cycle passport, including a photo of the bike and details of its make and model, in case it gets swiped by thieves.

People will also be told how to register their bike on a property database to protect it further and given advice on how to stop it being stolen.

Thurrock police’s crime reduction officer Alan Twine said: “By properly marking your property and sticking to basic security measure like using a solid D-Lock instead of a chain and keeping it secure at all times, the chance of your bike being stolen will go down drastically.

“If the worst were to happen, methods like the passport will aid the police investigation and will increase the chance of the property being returned to its rights owner.”

The cycle marking days will be held from 7pm to 8pm every day for the next three months at the following police stations: Mondays and Wednesdays at Grays; Tuesdays at South Ockendon; and Thursdays and Fridays in Corringham and Tilbury.