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A cyclist rides past houses on a street in Islington, London
A cyclist rides past houses on a street in Islington, London Photograph: Simon Newman/Reuters
A cyclist rides past houses on a street in Islington, London Photograph: Simon Newman/Reuters

How to stop your bicycle from being stolen

This article is more than 3 years old
Jonno Hopkins

Don’t buy an amazing bike, keep it indoors and use two locks

If you’ve managed to beat the hordes and snag a new bike amid the increase in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, the challenge now is ensuring it survives the growing bicycle thievery problem.

There’s no guarantee that any of the measures here will stop your bike from being stolen, but they’ll definitely help. If you’ve just bought a new bike, here’s how to lock it up properly.

Don’t buy an amazing bicycle

Arguably the strongest anti-theft measure going. A carbon frame and wheelset might make for a quick commute, but your bike will be target number one if it’s seen in the same location day after day. Even if it’s locked up like Fort Knox, a thief only has to be handy with an allen key and cable cutter in order to make off with potentially hundreds of pounds worth of components. The crappier your bike appears, the more likely you are to find it where you left it. If there was ever a better excuse for skipping washing your bike at the weekend, this is it.

Use two locks

Never lock your bike up with just a cable lock; you’re better off using dental floss. A gold standard D-lock is essential. Stick to brands such as Kryptonite, Oxford, OnGuard or Abus. The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-5 is small enough to be portable but strong enough for quick trips to the shop, park or pub. If you’re leaving a bicycle outside, out of view for longer than an hour, try the Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit or New York Standard. Decent locks are expensive and heavy but thieves would rather go for cheaper, weaker locks. Two D-locks is ideal, but a D-lock with a cable lock for the front wheel should be enough to ensure you return to a bike that’s in one piece. A set of locking security skewers are a good option if you don’t fancy lugging a second lock around with you, and can also be used to secure saddles too.

Learn how and where to secure your bike

Lock your bike tightly, keeping everything off the ground and leaving no space for power tools, bolt cutters, pry bars or lock pickers. Use your second lock to secure the front wheel to the frame. Leave your bike within eyeshot, among other bikes, somewhere bright and busy where there’s CCTV. Quiet, leafy, posh side streets are never good. Look for dedicated Sheffield stands or cycle hoops. Avoid flimsy racks which only lock the front or rear wheel, wooden posts or trees, and anything your bike can be lifted over. Check whatever you’re locking to hasn’t been cut and covered. (It happens.)

Bring your bike inside

Going to a friend’s house? Bring your bike in. Going to the pub? Ask if you can leave your bike out of the way in the beer garden. Your work might have a bike/storage room you can use; if they don’t, petition for one. If you live in a tiny flat, congrats on your new piece of bicycle furniture. Alternatively, ask your council to install secure hangers. This might involve befriending your cycling neighbours and getting them behind your cause.

Prepare for the worst

Make a note of your bicycle’s serial number (it’s on the bottom bracket, underneath the bike), take a few pictures and register it on Bike Register and Immobilise. If it’s lost and found you’ll need to prove it’s yours. If it’s stolen, keep an eye on eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Avoid setting up a sting if it does appear – there’s a chance you’ll be going up against professional bad people and they’ll be far more experienced at this kind of thing than you are. Instead, call the police and let them know you’ve found your bike. Otherwise, bicycle insurance is well worth considering.

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