ALTON Police will focus on cycle security in and around Alton next week.

Officers will offer advice, get bikes security marked, and register them with BikeRegister and Immobilise at two town locations next Wednesday, July 18.

They will be on the High Sreet and at Waitrose and the railway station from 10am-2pm.

It is response to an increase in the number of bike thefts reported to Hampshire Constabulary and British Transport Police.

In the meantime, Hampshire Police have offered advice ways to keep bicycles safe and secure:

Register: Security mark your bike and register it on BikeRegister and Immobilise. This helps police identify stolen property easier and return it to its rightful owner.

Record: Make sure to record the serial number of your bike. If it is lost or stolen it will be easier to distinguish as your property if found. You may also want to make a note of any unique features of the bike or any places where there is wear to help identify it as yours.

Lock: Use good quality locks. Expensive bikes with poor quality locks will often be targeted as it will take little effort for thieves to remove. Use at least two good quality locks, one of these should be a D-Lock and the bike should be secured as close as possible to a cycle stand (preferably in view of CCTV). One lock should be secured around the front wheel and the other should be secured around the rear wheel and frame.

Remove: Make sure you remove any parts which are detachable, for instance lights, helmet and saddle, and store them somewhere secure.

Act: If your bike is stolen, report it to the police as soon as possible. The sooner the police are aware, the higher the chances of the bike being found and returned to you.