Industry News from Yes Insurance

Police in parts of Bristol are handing out free steering locks to owners of vulnerable vehicles.

The move is part of a campaign called Relentless on Car Crime and it is hoped that by handing out free security equipment crime will fall and so will car insurance claims.

Motorbike and moped owners will also receive free equipment in the form of ground anchors and cable locks.

As well as handing out the equipment there will be additional police patrols in specified car and bike crime hotspots.

"If you secure your motorcycle or moped when you leave it, even if you are only going away for five minutes, then the chance of it being stolen decreases dramatically," said Inspector Polly Johnson from the Bristol East police force.

"Small bikes are often more at risk. Nearly 75 per cent of the bikes stolen in Bristol had a cylinder capacity of 125cc or less. These smaller machines are lighter and easier for the offender to simply carry away.

"That is why we are going to owners direct to raise awareness of the problem and offer them security products free of charge. All they have to do is use them," she added.

A ground anchor is a metal plate which is attached to the floor or a wall and is then used to hold a motorbike firmly in place.

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