7 Tips To Prevent Bike Theft

September 20, 2019

Having your bike stolen has been a nightmare. Go over the 7 terrifying bike theft prevention tips and tricks to help keep your bicycle safe.

More than 1.8 million bicycles are reported stolen periodically in the US. Half of all enthusiastic cyclists have their bikes stolen, while only 2.4 percent of stolen bikes were retrieved.

Smart prevention is the best way to prevent your bike from being stolen and criteria, which savvy bike thieves don't want you to know, will help.

Top 7 Must-Know Suggestions for Bike Theft Prevention

Tip No. 1: Use a Strong and Reliable Bike Lock

Never ignore to lock your bike, and prefer a stiff and quality lock for your cycle. This is always necessary for preventing bike theft in university, in your front/backyard, parking, or even on side of the street.

"Never, never use a chain, for it's too easy to cut." Said a former bike thief.

Determining the perfect lock, which plays a key function in bicycle an-theft, should require some analysis.

• Cable locks: Get free from cable locks, because the bulk of bikes stolen on campus are locked with this type.

• U-locks & D-locks: Use a D-lock or U-lock, for they are complete more difficult and harder to be picked with. Use the lock on both the front and rear of your wheels. Bike thieves will give up if they require to take too much time and effort in unlocking the bike.

Tip No. 2: Take Bike Inside to Prevent a Bike Theft Crime

Of course, this is simple and effective – secure your bicycle simply by taking it inside. If you live on the ground floor, or you don't mind taking your bike with you up the stairs, this is a pretty effective bike theft obstacle you have. Of course, this only protects your bike while you are at home, so you still need to make sure that you are following this guide when you park it someplace else.

Never forget your bike seat and tire. Several bikes have detachable bicycle seats or tires as a safety feature. These can be spontaneously removed and carried inside with you while you are at work or home.

Of course, this isn't a foolproof way to deter theft, because a thief fascinated in painting and reselling your bike may directly transport it in the back of a pickup truck. However, it will retain someone from riding off with your bike while you are at work.

Tip No. 3: Lockdown your fitness tracking

Fitness-tracking apps are great for promoting friendly competition amongst like-minded cyclists. However, they also broadcast insight into where you live or work, and what gear you are using. Many bike thefts have been linked to such information in recent years.

The good news is that privacy settings on these apps can be changed. Making your account private will present anonymity your details and activities, delivering you less likely to be a target in the future. You can also place exclusion zones around your address or workplace so no one can see specifically where you start/stop your rides and store your bike.

Tip No. 4: Shield Your Bike with an Anti-Theft GPS Bike Tracker

Bike theft tracking devices have a GPS chip built-in and can be planted into your bike handlebars. This is an excellent solution after a bike theft because as long as the thief doesn't know how to damage it. The police will be able to track your bike in real-time and arrest the person who took it – improving your bike in the process.

You may want to install a GPS tracking system on your bike, especially if you got familiar quick sale bikes, motorcycles, like Boardman racers, Carrera racers, and Ridgeback bikes, which are quickly targeted by bike thieves.

Tip No. 5: Learn how to lock your bike properly

Having an unintelligible bike lock will count for nothing if you don’t know how to properly secure your bike. A lock mounted or loose-fitting lock too close to the ground, or around the top tube of your frame are easy targets for potential thieves. The more support that can be produced gives more opportunity for a lock to be settled, potentially making your bike an easy target.

The following tips should help you lock your bike more effectively, keeping your bike safe from thieves:

Solid & safe

Your bike is only as secure as the object you’re locking it to. Locking your bike to a solid object, such as a dedicated bike rack or immovable street furniture is generally going to be the most reliable option.

Low and Tight

When locking your bike frame, putting the lock as close to the bottom bracket as potential and deciding a lock with permission as tight as possible is desirable. If you have a little more vacancy, passing the lock through or around as many components, such as the wheels and frame, or street furniture will reduce excess movement, making your bike more safe in the process.

Double down

In addition to making your bike more secure, the more time and effort required to steal your bicycle will often stop theft. Combining a secure U-lock to secure the frame with a firm chain or strengthened cable lock for the wheels is a familiar option and enough to deter opportunistic thieves, leaving them seeking for an easier target.

Tip No. 6: Defend Your Bike from Theft by Moving It Regularly

Another great security anticipation is to move your bike regularly. The reason for this is simple: if a possible thief sees your bike in the same place every day, particularly during several hours, then he or she will have a much more reliable idea when they might be able to get away with stealing your bike. If you always lock it up somewhere different, then it is unlikely someone will know that it will be neglected for several hours.

Tip No 7. Choose a location carefully, keep their bike away from high crime area, balancing protection with visibility

Determining a good location to leave your bike neglected can be a trade-off situation. If you prefer a secluded, out-of-the-way location, then it might be less likely to be noticed. However, a secluded location gives a thief with a better place to work on taking your bike without being marked by a passing law enforcement officer or a good samaritan.

The best balance of seclusion and visibility might be a commercial parking garage, since only others using the garage are likely to be passing by your bike, and the area might be patrolled by the garage staff regularly. If your workplace has dedicated bike parking, use it, but still be sure to use your lock. Bring your bike into your workplace with you, if your employer allows it. Finally, use your lock even when your bike is parked in your garage at home. The open garage door has often provided a too-easy opportunity for the bike thief passing by your neighborhood.