Here are a few tips to ensure that your bike isn’t stolen.
Always use a lock
Beware that some locks are truly useless! Always invest in a solid lock which has been tested by Sold Secure, a not-for-profit company administered by the Master Locksmiths Association. They rate locks Bronze, Silver or Gold in ascending order of security. The locks should hold out for one, three and five minutes respectively against progressively more determined and tooled-up attacks.
Please remember though, a thief with big bolt croppers can break open Gold-rated locks in under a minute. This doesn’t mean locks shouldn’t be used and most will stop an opportunist thief and hopefully make him look for an easier target.
Be aware of where you leave the bike
Register your bike
Register your bikes details including frame number, make, model and a photo of the bike on a scheme such as Veloeye. This will ensure that if the bike is found it can be traced back to you.
Insurance
Make sure your bike is adequately insured and that you are complying with the insurers T&C’s when you leave it. Make sure that the lock you are using is approved by the insurance company. Some insurers will not cover a bike left on a car bike rack or inside a shed for instance.
If your bike is stolen
Do report the theft to the police. If your bike is registered with veloeye they will email you a document to take to the Police with the details of the bike. It is essential that the Police can identify the bike as yours quickly and easily.
Share pictures of your bike and the location of the theft on social media and tweet bike shops in the area. If your bike is registered with veloeye they will do this for you automatically.
