Thieves strike at Hollands Wood in Brockenhurst and Ashurst Campsite in Ashurst, taking seven bikes with one valued at £5,500
CAMPING cyclists have been warned to be on their guard after thieves targeted two Forest campsites and made off with bicycles while the owners slept.
The thefts took place at Hollands Wood in Brockenhurst, where six bikes were taken, and one from Ashurst Campsite in Ashurst, last weekend.
Despite three of them being secured to campervans, the locks were cut while the owners slept inside.
In response to the thefts, Camping New Forest, which runs the sites, is set to boost its CCTV and introduce “new measures”.
A police post online about the thefts said: “The campsite staff do a brilliant job of reminding people about not leaving their bicycles unattended and if possible keeping them inside, and some of the campsites have safe storage for bicycles too.
“Often when we talk to victims of crime who are visitors to the area they are surprised that thieves operate here, but of course thieves operate everywhere.
“We will continue our proactive patrols too and hopefully, if we all work together, we can stop more people becoming the victim of this type of crime.”
Two more bikes were also reportedly stolen from outside the New Forest Inn at Ashurst a few days earlier.
A spokesperson for Camping New Forest, which runs the sites, told the A&T: “We are disappointed bike thefts have occurred at both Hollands Wood and Ashurst and understand how frustrating this is for our guests. “Their safety and enjoyment remain our top priority. As a result, and to help protect future visitors, we’re expanding our CCTV systems and implementing new measures across all our sites.
“On arrival, we advise guests to use locks rated at least ‘gold’ by Sold Secure when bikes are not in use and to remove a wheel, saddle, or e-bike battery where possible. We recommend considering bike alarms or GPS trackers for added security.”
The spokesperson added: “We’re working closely with Hampshire police who visit our campsites to speak with guests about bike safety. They offer free bike marking, which involves permanently marking bikes, and advise registering them with a national database – helping to deter theft and improve recovery if a bike is stolen. Finally, we are exploring bike hire options to allow visitors enjoy cycling around the New Forest without the worry of having their bike stolen.”
Councillor David Harrison, who represents Totton and Marchwood, called the thefts “particularly mean”. He said: “There is one thing that is guaranteed to ruin a camping holiday – having your expensive bike taken during the night when you are sleeping.
“This isn't the first occasion it has happened; we had a spate of it a few years back. The criminals arrive at the campsites with bolt cutters. It takes barely a minute to whisk away a bike worth thousands of pounds.”
He added: “The nature of camping is such that it is almost impossible to secure a bike without the risk of it being taken.
“Forestry England promote the idea of taking bikes for ‘off grid nature experiences’, but having your property nicked isn't the sort of memory you want to take away with you.”
