Lock up every detachable part of your bike, say the Angel Police Team who have recently nicked thieves making whole new bikes out of stolen wheels and frames before cycling off, taking quick release wheels from one bike and snapping them onto the frame of another which was only fixed to a rack by its front wheel.

“Make sure you lock or take anything detachable with you,” says team sergeant Chris Walsh. “That includes lights, pumps, quick release saddles and panniers, but most importantly you always need a strong lock and a cable through your wheels. It only takes a few seconds to lock up but it’s worth it.”

Bikes that aren’t claimed do have a second life though. Once it’s clear their owners can’t be traced, police send them to good causes such as youth projects, or to be sold at auction houses. The money raised is often donated to local charities, such as the recent £3,000 donation from our team to the Little Angel Puppet Theatre.