W.A.S.P. Puts The Sting On Bicycle Thieves

The U.K. government has been backing more initiatives lately to encourage its population to adopt a more active lifestyle, with bicycles being touted as an excellent alternative to driving to work. However, according to Home Office statistics, nearly every minute, a bike is being stolen. Central London, Kingston-upon Thames, and Cambridge are the hotspots, too, and SOS Response wants to do something about it, and has partnered with MediaBurst to get things done.

They’ve developed the W.A.S.P. (Wireless Asset Security Protection) Cycle Monitoring System which allows cyclists to lockup their transports in secure, monitored areas. To activate the lock on their bike, owners send a quick SMS to a security control room. From there, the lock is monitored and any tampering sets of a movement sensor, which emits a silent alarm. The closed-circuit TV system then zooms in on the situation to record it and verify that it’s not a forgetful owner. If it looks like a thief, a police officer can be quickly dispatched to the scene. Typically, the would-be bandit will release the goods, but if not, they’ve got him on video for prosecution.

The system was tested out in Portsmouth last winter, and bike theft was decreased by 90%, which is pretty cool. Future rollouts will be nationwide and could include motor bikes and scooters.