POLICE in part of Sunderland are hoping to stamp out cycle theft.
A total of 41 children have had their bikes stolen in the Southwick area in the past year while out playing. And officers are having trouble reuniting owners with their bikes when they are recovered because they are not post-coded.
Officers from Sunderland City North Task Force will security stamp cycles with the owner's post code on Sunday, from 1pm to 4pm, at Southwick Police Station.
PC Andrew Errington said: "A bike is often a youngster's most prized possession and if it is stolen it is obviously very traumatic for them.
"We often recover bikes which we strongly suspect have been stolen, but we have no way of identifying them.
"At the last count police in Sunderland have between 50 and 60 unidentified bikes. These could have been returned to their owners if only they had been stamped."
Parents can also discuss crime fears with officers while their children are having their bikes stamped
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