John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of bicycles stolen in the Dublin area to date in 2017; the number of bicycles that have been reclaimed by persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44880/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that to 30 September 2017, 3,398 bicycles have been recorded as stolen in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR). I am also informed that 240 stolen bicycles have been recovered and 72 bicycles have been returned to their owners. These figures are operational, provisional and liable to change.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that bicycle theft is an ongoing problem in every community and that there are a number of factors impacting on the crime trend, in particular the increased number of people utilising pedal cycles now as their preferred form of commuting. I am assured that Garda Management are continuously monitoring crime trends and hot spots to ensure intelligence led operations are put in place to target crimes of this nature.

I understand that a crime prevention initiative called "Info Bike" was commenced in the DMR East in late 2014 and has been implemented in the DMR South Central since June 2015. The objective of this initiative is to reduce bicycle thefts by targeting known crime hot spots, raising awareness, educating the public about the correct locks for bicycles, the correct locking practices and deterring bicycle thieves.

I am further informed that Crime Prevention Officers are liaising with bicycle retailers and other outlets and proffering crime prevention advice, such as:

- recording details of the purchasers together with the bicycle frame number

- advising of various bicycle registration schemes (including local Garda schemes) and

- advising purchasers to purchase good quality locks.

As the vast majority of persons reporting stolen bicycles to An Garda Síochána do not know the frame number of their stolen bicycle, the recording of this information at the point of sale makes returning recovered property easier for An Garda Síochána.