Bicycles stolen every 71 seconds

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A bicycle is stolen every 71 seconds in England as new figures show nearly 440,000 were reported stolen last year.

As bike sales rise with people becoming more environmentally conscious, cycle thefts have risen 10%, according to a survey by Halifax Home Insurance.

The hotspots for thefts are central London, Kingston-upon-Thames in south west London, Cambridge and Bristol.

Almost 90% occurred when a cycle was left locked in public. Only 1% of bikes were taken from an owner's home.

Owners are being urged to step up the level of security on their bikes in the light of the new figures.

Vicky Emmott of Halifax Home Insurance called the figure of one theft every 71 seconds "astounding".

"The increase in thefts is due to an upsurge in the popularity of cycling across Britain," she said.

"With increasing numbers of employers taking up initiatives such as the Government's cycle to work scheme, opportunities for thieves will only increase."