Finally got the bike of your dreams? Don’t keep it under the bed for fear of thieves! There are far better ways to protect your bike from theft. What are they? See for yourself:
Don’t trust cheap steel cables from the supermarket
On the next shelf over you’ll find bolt cutters that will get through one of those in a matter of seconds. Thieves know this! A folding bike lock is a better option, although it too has its Achilles’ heel – the rivets, which can easily be separated with the right tool.
Invest in a proper lock
If you want to secure your bike effectively, buy a U-lock with a shackle at least 12 mm thick, or a dedicated bike chain. Contrary to appearances, they aren’t nearly as heavy as you might think! You can buy them in any larger bike shop or online.
Install a small notiOne tracker somewhere discreet
Ideally in black – attached, say, under the saddle, hidden in a light or in the bell, it certainly won’t catch the eye. Admittedly, a tracker won’t protect you from theft, but if you lose your bike, it will increase the chances of finding it. Thanks to notiOne, Paula recovered her bike. What’s more, it turned out that an organised gang of thieves had taken an interest in it. Watch her story!
If this gadget has caught your interest, take a look at the Bluetooth tracker or the GPS tracker.
Pay attention to what you lock your bike to!
Even the best lock won’t help if you tie your bike to a stand that’s easy to dismantle, or to a wire fence that any decent pair of cutters will make short work of. Don’t leave your bike in dark alleys, open basements or other rarely visited places – a thief will have plenty of time there to defeat any lock, even the best one. And remember, the lock needs to go through both the frame and the wheel; locking only the wheel is asking for trouble.
Visit the police station… before you lose your bike.
At your request, the police will mark your bike with a special colourless marker that’s visible under UV light, even beneath an extra coat of paint. A number applied this way will help you recover your bike if the police find it.
Prepare and keep full documentation of your bike.
Be sure to keep the proof of purchase, write down the bike’s full specification and take photos – of the whole bike as well as its distinctive parts and any identifying marks. In the event of theft, documentation like this will make the search much easier. It will also serve as proof that a recovered bike really is yours.
Unfortunately, there’s no lock that can’t be removed. But if you follow these few rules, there’s a good chance the thief will go looking for easier pickings. Remember, for them every extra second means a greater risk of getting caught.
