A STOLEN bike has been reunited with its owner in York - thanks to security marking by police.

North Yorkshire Police said officers recovered a suspected stolen Carrera bike which had been abandoned in St Andrewgate, York, and had previously been security marked with innovative ‘dot peen’ technology, meaning its frame was engraved with a unique identification number.

“Just as officers were about to visit the registered address of the bike’s owner, she called 101 to report that her bike, worth about £300, had been stolen from Blake Street that afternoon,” said a spokesman.

“The details she provided matched that of the security marking registration, and she was able to collect her bike from North Street Police Station the same day.”

Inspector Lee Pointon said hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stolen property, including cycles, was recovered every year from criminals but there was often no way of identifying the owners. “Being able to trace the ownership of the property not only helps victims get their belongings back, it can also provide evidence that is vital in securing convictions.”