Fill in each blank
with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note
that there is one word more than you need.
|
A.
scale B. engaged C. disastrous D. hotspots E. target F. victim
G.
interwoven H. inevitable I. continuous J.
resolve K. risky
|
Why
Bike Theft Is Not Taken Seriously?
For many people a bicycle is the only
transport they can afford and it is very convenient for them to use. Therefore,
the impact of the loss of their bike can be {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But why is cycle theft so often seen
as a minor crime?
According to the police, 96,210 bikes were
stolen in 2018, and about one in 50 bicycle-owning households fall {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to cycle theft each
year. Those who can afford a second bike might have a "beater", a
cheap bike they leave in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} areas, and can afford to lose — but those who cannot
make both ends meet, and live below the poverty line will find themselves
cornered by bike theft.
According to a survey for Bike Register,
50% of victims felt police didn't investigate the crime, while those {#blank#}4{#/blank#} in cycle theft see it as low risk in terms of
being caught. Police recover just 3% of stolen bikes. In fact, the problem is
almost certainly much greater: People often don't report it thinking there's
nothing the police can do, so the full {#blank#}5{#/blank#} of the problem remains hidden.
Cycle crime hotspots were identified as
Cambridge, Oxford, Southampton, Bristol, etc. Most cycle thefts occur near or
in people's homes, but thieves also {#blank#}6{#/blank#} transport hubs
(中心，枢纽) and university campuses. In the
meantime, the police have come up with a way to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the issue. Training 23 officers in regional
cycle crime taskforces is part of a national cycle crime strategy, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} with measures like
education on safe locking techniques, working with websites where more than
half of stolen bikes are sold, and identifying cycle theft {#blank#}9{#/blank#} and priorities.
If a bike is stolen, there is about a 20%
chance the victim will not replace it, losing their transport, exercise, and
potential access to local communities and service. It is widely accepted that police's
{#blank#}10{#/blank#} effort is fundamental to a drop in cycle
theft.
