Article updated December 2025
E-scooters are becoming increasingly popular and more and more people are deciding to buy one – especially city dwellers, who find them a convenient way to get from home to work and back. If you do not want to expose your e-scooter to theft, you need to choose the right protection to deter a thief. Which anti-theft lock should you choose for your e-scooter? How should you lock it up to keep it safe? We have prepared a short guide for you.
The most popular ways of protecting an e-scooter against theft
How do you protect an e-scooter against theft? Some e-scooter models have built-in anti-theft protection, but just as with the factory security on car keys, it may prove insufficient. That is why it is a good idea to reinforce your anti-theft protection with additional accessories.
U-lock – a lock shaped like the letter U that can be fitted around the handlebars of the e-scooter. It is fairly heavy and quite large, which means you have to carry it in a rucksack. For some people this may be a big drawback, but bear in mind that this kind of lock is solid and hard to remove even for the most experienced thieves.
Classic cable or bike chain – the simplest and cheapest anti-theft lock you will find on the market. You can hook it under the front wheel or at the rear of the e-scooter. It is easy to fit, but offers a fairly low level of security. Depending on whether you choose a cable or a chain, bear in mind that the lock can weigh quite a lot. The sturdier it is, the heavier it will be – but the harder it will be for a thief to break it without attracting attention.
Disc lock – a disc-type lock that blocks the e-scooter’s wheel, effectively immobilising it in places where there is no post or fence to lock the scooter to. The lock is small, so you can easily travel with it. On its own, it will not protect the e-scooter against theft, but it will make it impossible to ride. This type of lock is very often sold together with security cables.
Alarm lock – a disc lock with an alarm is fitted with a special motion sensor that detects theft attempts and movement, and triggers the alarm. Most of these locks emit a sound of 100 dB, similar to a standard car horn.
notiOne tracker for e-scooters – the most effective way to protect an e-scooter against theft. You can use it to complement one of the locks listed above. The device is small and can be attached to the e-scooter’s keys. The notiOne tracker works thanks to a network of cooperating phones – the notiOne community (finders’ network). Every phone with a cooperating app installed picks up the signal from any tracker that comes within 90 m of it. The detected signal, together with the device’s location, is sent to the server, which identifies who the tracker belongs to and sends the location sample to the owner’s phone. It all happens very quickly!
The notiOne tracker uses Bluetooth technology in an innovative way. With the dedicated app on your phone, you can check the location of your e-scooter at any time.
Protecting an e-scooter against theft – what to look out for
When choosing effective anti-theft protection for an e-scooter, it is worth combining different locks – for example a U-lock and a GPS tracker – to strengthen the protection of your equipment.
Remember, though, that anti-theft locks alone are not everything. Pay attention to:
- Choosing a good spot on the e-scooter that lets you attach the lock in such a way that a thief cannot easily get rid of it. If something can easily be broken, torn off or unscrewed, it is not a good point.
- Where you lock the e-scooter – a free-standing post is not a good idea, nor is a road sign whose plate can be unscrewed. Lock your e-scooter to sturdy fixtures that are not easy to dismantle, such as bike racks, stair rails or railings.
- Park your e-scooter in public places with plenty of foot traffic. In such an area, any suspicious behaviour will quickly be noticed. It also helps if you can keep an eye on your e-scooter from inside the building you are in.
- The time of day matters enormously. Most e-scooter thefts happen at night, so if you can, do not leave your e-scooter outside all night. Firstly, there is a very high risk it will be stolen, and secondly, a storm or rain during the night could damage it.
If you are in the habit of carrying a bunch of keys plus the NFC cards that unlock your e-scooter, it is time to break that bad habit! Keep all spare keys and cards in a safe place or at home. If you lose your bunch of keys and the spare is on it too, you will have a serious problem!
E-scooter anti-theft protection — is it effective?
Anti-theft protection for e-scooters varies in effectiveness. The more durable and sophisticated the lock you choose, the lower the chance that your e-scooter will be stolen.
So how do you protect an e-scooter against theft? It is not worth skimping on locks – it is far better to invest in solid anti-theft protection to make the thieves’ job as difficult as possible. But remember not to overdo it. As drivers well know, the more cumbersome a lock is to use, the greater the chance you will stop using it yourself before long.
Nevertheless, we recommend combining different types of anti-theft locks to strengthen the protection of your e-scooter, and following the rules described above. Almost 30% of thefts are spontaneous and unplanned, so it is better not to tempt fate – as the saying goes, “opportunity makes the thief”. Testing and trying out different solutions will help you find the one that suits you best.
Want to learn more about e-scooters? Be sure to read our other posts:
Which accessories for an e-scooter?
