Bike lock uses CCTV in theft fight

04 Oct 07

Cyclists at the University of Portsmouth are benefiting from a revolutionary new lock that uses text messaging and CCTV to catch bike thieves in the act.

The device has proved so popular it could end up being used by police forces, universities and businesses across the country.

Dreamt up by PC Dave Fairbrother, who works at the university, the system requires cyclists to send a text message to a security office each time they lock or unlock their bike.

Then, when a motion sensor in the specially-designed lock is disturbed by a thief trying to make off with the bike – or parts of it – a silent alarm is triggered that asks Big Brother for help.

The nearest CCTV camera will be instructed to turn to face the bike, filming the perpetrator in the act. Images automatically flash up onscreen in a nearby control room, giving guards on the ground a chance to catch up with the crook.

PC Fairbrother said, “Bicycle theft is a huge problem and in the past it was often luck if a bicycle thief was caught. The CCTV cameras could be pointing the wrong way, for example.

“Statistics show one bike is stolen every 71 seconds in England - with 440,000 thefts reported last year.”

“But with this technology we will always be watching and any attempted thefts of locked bicycles will result in the thief being captured on camera."

And it is needed. Statistics show one bike is stolen every 71 seconds in England - with 440,000 thefts reported last year.

A £6000 funding initiative from the university and Hampshire Constabulary allowed Winchester firm SoS Response to develop the technology.

“This solution to bike thefts is unique,” said Leonard Weaver, the company’s managing director. “It is the first of its kind and has huge potential for a wide range of applications.”

Three weeks of testing around Portsmouth have proved successful and university students are now being offered the locks for free.