BIKE theft hot spot figures show more than two a day are being stolen from some neighbourhoods. The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act this month, showed the number stolen by postcode since 2008.

The SE1 postcode, an area including Borough, Bankside, Waterloo and parts of Bermondsey and Elephant & Castle, had the highest number of thefts – with 2,419 since 2008 and 779 alone in 2010/11.

The thefts have prompted Lambeth council to introduce so-called “bike boxes” in Bonnington Square, Vauxhall, and Crimsworth Road in Stockwell.
The boxes were originally used in bicycle-loving Holland and this is the first time they have been put on Britain’s streets. They have been funded by Transport for London.

Cyclists will be given keys to lock their bikes inside for £5 a month. Councillor Nigel Haselden, Lambeth’s transport cabinet member, said: “Many residents in flats are put off owning a bike because they worry about it being stolen and don’t have the room to store it safely inside at night. “These new bike boxes solve that problem and I’m really pleased to see them being introduced.” The town hall is considering introducing more of the boxes if it can secure funding.

via SOUTH LONDON PRESS TODAY | NEWS | Box aims to stop the bike thieves | 2011.