MORE THAN 45,000 motorcycle racing fans will congregate on the Isle of Man for the mecca of road racing, the TT, over the next week.
And in the ports of Liverpool and Heysham, where ferries travel from to the British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea, an increased police presence will be in place to deter bike thieves, who are usually more active during TT week.
Last year 22 machines were reported stolen from hotels and B&Bs in the area, but given the growing rate of motorcycle crime in the UK, the number is expected to be higher this year.
Already, two riders have arrived in Douglas on foot, after their motorcycles were stolen in Liverpool. That’s despite Merseyside police best efforts to raise awareness of bike crime and urging riders to take strong security measures when leaving their machines and/or property overnight.
Sergeant Dave York from Merseyside Matrix Roads Policing Unit - also a member of the government's Motor Cycle Crime Reduction Group (MCRG) - told the Telegraph that police are deploying resources in the right places to ensure that bike thieves would be thwarted ahead of TT week.
He added that his officers will be out in force and local hotels and businesses were working alongside the police to ensure CCTV coverage was in place.
And when riders arrive in the Isle of Man the Manx police will be further advising on crime prevention and also checking for stolen machines.
