KOCHI: Bicycles, especially expensive ones, are getting frequently stolen in the city. The city police receive multiple theft complaints every day. Bicycles are popular with thieves because they are easy to steal and sell.

Last day, the police caught a person accused of stealing a bicycle kept outside a tuition centre in Palarivattom. The accused, a native of Tamil Nadu, stole and sold around seven bicycles from various places in Kochi. The police have found these bicycles and they are being returned to their owners.

The main victims are those who park their bicycles on the side of the road. Even if it is locked, the cycles are getting stolen. It is suspected that the theft of bicycles are then used on liquor and other intoxicants,

In addition to school students, the number of bicycle users in the city is increasing. There are cycles ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Police advise that bicycles should be kept safe like other vehicles.

Expensive bicycles sold at extremely low prices

Bicycles worth tens of thousands are sold from Rs.2,000 onwards. The thief caught by the Palarivattom police the other day sold a bicycle worth Rs 7,000 for Rs 500. Apart from migrants, Malayalees also buy stolen bicycles.

Metro cycles are safe

Although the thieves are on the prowl, none of Kochi Metro's bicycles have been stolen so far. They have sophisticated locking system and CCTV surveillance camera protection. Every metro station now has a bicycle. However, the thieves have stolen other bicycles parked in the metro station parking lot.