Bicycle Theft

Follow these ten tips to ensure your bicycle remains safe and secure:

1. Double-lock Your Bike: Use two locks, preferably one being a sturdy D-lock. It slows down thieves by the extra effort needed to defeat multiple locks.
2. Lock The Parts: Lock the frame and wheels to a secure cycle stand. Keep your bike as close to the stand as possible to not give any room for thieves to steal.
3. Insurance: Insure your bicycle to cover against theft, accident or damage.
4. Protect Removable Parts: Take easily detachable parts with you, like wheels, lights, baskets, or the saddle. Alternatively, use locking skewers or nuts to secure them permanently to the frame.
5. Choose Safe Parking: Park your bike at recognized secure cycle parking, well-lit and monitored by CCTV.
6. Register Your Bike: Record your frame number in a national bike registration database approved by Secured by Design. The frame number is usually located beneath the bike or near the pedals. If your bike is ever stolen and recovered by the police, it will be easy to return to you.
7. Take A photo: Take a photo of your bike and keep it with the insurance details. Make a note of the maker, model and serial number.
8. Mark Your Bike: Get your bike security marked; it can be a strong visual barrier for thieves. It signals that your bike is traceable, making them think twice about stealing it.
9. Home Security: Safeguard your bike at home as you would on the street. Avoid advertising that you have a bike, and protect your privacy on apps like Strava.
10. Verify Ownership: When purchasing a second-hand bike, check for proof of ownership and the frame number on national bike registration databases approved by Secured by Design.

If your bike gets stolen, contact police as soon as possible by calling 101, providing your frame number, cycle database number, a photo, and other relevant details.

If your bike goes missing, make sure to take action as soon as possible. Consider these steps:

• Update Status: Updating the status on the cycle database where you registered it is crucial. The faster we know, the better chance we have to prevent its sale.
• Stolen Bikes In The UK: Reach out to Stolen Bikes in the UK to spread the word about your stolen bike and receive valuable advice on recovery.
• Find That Bike: Check online marketplaces frequently for ads listing bikes for sale. Thieves often post these ads within 24 hours of the theft but keep searching, as they may appear months later.