Advice for Keeping Your Bike Safe and Secure
Having your bike stolen can be an upsetting and expensive experience. More than half a million bicycles are stolen in the UK each year and the Highlands and Islands are not immune from this crime. More than half of stolen bikes are removed from the owner's property and most have not been secured. Following the advice on this page will help to reduce the chances that your bike will be stolen.
Lock it or Lose it
- The most important thing is to buy, AND USE, good quality bike locks. Ask your bike shop for guidance or consult the www.soldsecure.com website for certified locks.
- Buy the best quality lock which you can afford but look to invest between 10% and 20% of the value of the bike in buying locks.
- Ideally use two different types of lock when locking your bike – this means that a thief will need different tools to break each lock.
- Hardened steel D-shaped locks are recommended; chain and cable locks can also be used but must be sturdy enough to withstand attack.
- Lock your bike EVERY TIME you leave it, even for a few minutes.
When you Buy Your Bike
- Budget For Security – Include the price of one or two locks, plus any costs to secure your bike at home, in your budget.
- Insure Your Bike – Either by extending your home contents insurance or through a separate policy – cycling organisations and bike shops may be able to advise you about specialist cover.
- Don't Help to Create a Market for Stolen Bikes – When buying a second hand bike, make sure the seller owns it. When buying a new bike, go to a recognised dealer.
- Record and Register – Keep a written description and photo of your bike – why not print and use the following Bike Passport?
- Register your bike for free with national databases such as www.bikeregister.com or www.immobilise.com or contact your local police station to enquire about having your bike security marked.
Security at Home
- The safest place to keep your bike is within your house.
- If you keep it in a shed or garage, ensure that the shed or garage has adequate security. Consider a shed alarm.
- Lock your bike, even at home. Consider using a ground or wall anchor which can be attached to a floor or wall – your bike can be locked to this.
- Store your bike out of sight.
- DO NOT leave your bike lying insecure in a garden, common stairwell or other communal parts of a building.
Out and About
- Lock your bike in a well-lit public area with other bikes if possible. Ideally it should be in view of other people and CCTV.
- Always lock your bike, through the wheel and frame, to an immoveable object such as a bike rack, tree or lamppost. Do not lock the wheel to the frame only, or attach the frame only to another object, remember – wheel, frame AND immoveable object.
- Ideally secure both wheels with separate locks – if you can only secure one wheel, it should always be the back.
- Make sure the locks are tight to the bike and that the locking mechanism is facing downwards and close to, but not on, the ground. This makes it more difficult for the thief by restricting leverage and access to locks.
- Remove accessories such as lights, computers, saddlebags, pumps and quick release saddles.