The number of bike thefts has risen in Harlow during the coronavirus pandemic.
Essex Police has revealed bike thefts in the town centre and surrounding area have risen in the last three months.
A year ago, the force created a special team to target the criminal practice.
Sergeant Tony Short said: “We know the impact it can have to have gone to the shops or finished a day at work only to find your bike has been stolen.
“Initially we had very little information to go on making it difficult to identify a suspect and progress the investigations.
“So we worked in partnership with Harlow Council’s Community Safety Team, local security teams, and local businesses and were soon able to build a profile of a suspect and the areas which had been targeted.
“This meant we were able to review a lot of the investigations and managed to arrest, charge and get a conviction for a suspect who was jailed for seven months."
For more breaking news, local headlines and features, ‘like’ our Facebook page.
We also have a Twitter account: @EppingFGuardian
Follow us to keep up-to-date with news in Epping Forest.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here