How to protect a bicycle from theft?

Although bicycle theft statistics have declined over the past few years, the numbers are still unforgiving – thieves clearly haven’t given up on this form of income. Both bicycles left “for a minute” under the store and those stored in basements or even on balconies are lost. The topic of anti-theft prevention should therefore be approached holistically. How to protect a bicycle from theft? We suggest what to do to always be one step ahead of a thief.

Bicycle thefts in Poland

Bicycles are a very “grateful” object of theft. They are easy to roll up, easy to ride off on, and easy to cash in – if not in whole, then at least in parts. All the more so because in recent years, riding two wheels has grown in popularity. The record in this regard was the pandemic spring of 2020. At one point, the bicycle became a scarce commodity, as Poles went on a shopping spree in such crowds that bike stores simply ran out of unicycles. So the streets and parks became overcrowded with cyclists – and the opportunity for thieves to snatch the valuable loot arrived.

The most valuable and tempting loot, of course, are the new bicycles, looking as if they were taken off the showroom floor a moment ago. It is on them that thieves earn the most. The theft of such unicycles is most often not the result of a spontaneous impulse, but a carefully prepared action. High-value bicycles are therefore often lost from basements or storage cells, or even balconies – stories have been known where the thief, like a stuntman, climbed up to a high floor and then roped off the loot to his waiting companions below.

However, this does not mean that owners of older bicycles, which already have a lot of miles on the odometer, need not worry about anything. Such unicycles also disappear under unknown circumstances. However, the modus operandi of criminals in such cases is somewhat different – thieves simply look out for opportunities, lurking, for example, on bicycles left outside the store.

First of all – common sense

So how do you keep your bike safe from theft? The most important thing is common sense. It’s not a matter of slinging every possible type of security around the bike and then still putting a rottweiler by it. Putting on and taking off such chains or padlocks would take a lot of time and energy, making life miserable. The idea is that, according to the proverb, opportunity makes a thief, not to tempt shenanigans. So on a daily basis, remember some important rules:

• Never leave a bicycle unprotected, even if you are only entering a store for a moment. To steal such a unicycle, the thief doesn’t have to make any effort at all – all he has to do is get on it and ride away. A crowd of people around or a camera on the building certainly won’t stop him, once he’s had the opportunity.
• If you must leave your bike outside, choose busy areas. The presence of other people can make it more difficult for a thief to steal if you secure the unicycle with a solid fastener – an attempt to saw through an armored U-lock on a sidewalk full of passersby will certainly not go unnoticed. In the case of a lickety-split line, however, the crowd may not help. Such a safety device is easy to cut, so a tinkering thief will simply look like the owner unhooking his bike and will not arouse anyone’s suspicion.
• When leaving your bicycle for an extended period of time, take along more valuable, easily detachable accessories such as lights and a meter. Also think about double security – there is a good chance that a set of U-lock + wheel lock will deter a thief.

The best bicycle safety devices – which ones to choose?

The best bike security is considered to be the aforementioned U-lock. It’s simply a large, sturdy padlock – it takes the form of a U-bent steel bar, the ends of which are connected by a lock. Such a fastener looks armored at first glance, so it will certainly deter less determined thieves. Its disadvantage, however, is that it will not be able to be pinned in every place. A U-lock of a good brand, such as Kryptonite, can be purchased for less than PLN 100.

Another recommended type of bicycle safety devices are special chains made of hardened steel. They are difficult to cut, but heavy – a decent safety device of this type can weigh up to 4 kg! However, the chain, unlike the U-lock, can be pinned in a less typical place, so in this respect it will be more versatile.

There are still available so-called folding fasteners, which combine the advantages of the above-described security features – they are lighter than a chain and more convenient to fasten than a U-lock. However, they are losing in the most important respect – reliability. The weakness here is the connections of the individual links, which are easily cut.

Complementing such fasteners can still be a rear wheel lock, which prevents the bike from riding away. A poor form of securing a unicycle, on the other hand, are the popular metal cables usually laced with rubber. A thief can cut such a fastener in seconds. With a little skill and luck, it doesn’t even need tools, as cheaper lines can simply be torn apart.

Bicycle security at home and in the block

You should take care of protecting your bike from theft not only when you leave it outside a store or bank, but also when you “garage” it. This is especially true for those cyclists who live in a block or townhouse and leave their unicycle in a basement, bike room or storage unit. Let’s face it – it’s not the safest place to store a bicycle. According to police statistics, it is from basements that unicycles are most often lost. And no wonder – these are places that are easy to slip into, even in guarded housing estates. Once a thief gets inside, he has plenty of time to remove any security features. He doesn’t even have to worry about the noise, as residents are unlikely to hear it.

So the more prudent cyclists park their two-wheelers on balconies. However, this is the worst possible place to store a bicycle. First, because more determined thieves, even from a great height, can steal pre-picked equipment, as we have already mentioned. Secondly, a unicycle left on a balcony is exposed to the elements, primarily moisture, which contributes to corrosion.

A safe bicycle? Only in the apartment!

The best space to store a bicycle in a block of apartments is your own apartment. Nowhere will be as safe – neither in the basement, nor in the storage cell, nor in the stairwell, because any of these places can be accessed by an unauthorized person. But how do you carve out space for a bicycle apartment? On a larger space this should not cause much of a problem, but on a smaller one, such as in a studio apartment, it seems impossible. It’s hard to imagine that in an apartment that lacks space for storing essentials, you could still squeeze a bicycle in somewhere.

The solution is bike racks – because if your apartment lacks floor space, use the wall! This is a double benefit: your bicycle will be safe, but at the same time it will not take up valuable space and will not interfere with the household members’ daily activities. Such a bicycle holder can be hung anywhere. Some hangers, such as Crank Pro, are so minimalist and designer that, together with the bike hanging on them, they will be an original decoration of the interior, so they can even hang on the wall behind the sofa in the living room.

At the same time, you don’t have to worry about hanging your bike on the bracket as a daily ordeal. Yes, to place a unicycle on a hanger like Crank, you need to use some force. However, others are available, slightly more convenient to use solutions, such as. Rotary Kranked Twist – this is vertical mounts – to place a unicycle on them, you just need to put it on the rear wheel, and direct the front wheel on a specially shaped arm. This way you can quickly and conveniently “park” even a heavy MTB or DH bike.

How to protect a bicycle from theft? The prudent always insured!

Unfortunately – none of us can predict everything. No matter how meticulously you protect your bicycle, it’s a good idea to be protected against the possibility of theft as well. Remember to keep the proof of purchase of the unicycle in a safe place – it will come in handy during a possible visit to the police. A photo, frame number and hardware specifications will also be helpful. All these details can help in the possible identification of the bike, if by some miracle it is found. We will not hide – the chances of recovering the stolen equipment are, unfortunately, slim.

 

To effectively protect yourself from bike theft, you need to act on many fronts. The most important thing is to secure your unicycle well when you leave it unattended in a public place. It’s always better to blow the whistle! It’s also not worth the risk, leaving the bike in the basement or on the balcony. With RTR Bikes bike hangers, storing a unicycle in the apartment really can be simple and convenient.

Find out that even in a small apartment a bicycle does not have to be a problem: Storing a bicycle in a small apartment – inspiration and tips.

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