THEFT PROTECTION OF BICYCLES AND E-BIKES: WHAT YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO

The bicycle is one of the most popular means of transport for short and medium distances and has become particularly popular with commuters in urban areas. However, it seems all the more complicated to secure the environmentally friendly replacement of cars. Once left unobserved for a short time, the bicycle thief has already disappeared into the next side street. In 2018, 353,000 bicycle thefts were reported in Germany, of which 160,000 were insured bikes. The number of unreported cases is much higher. The high number of thefts and the professionalized approach show that it is not only possible to speak of petty thieves. Therefore, there are some tips that should be observed when securing bikes.

If you really want to steal a bike, you will manage in most cases. But there are simple but valuable tips that make the theft more difficult. The increased time required and small strategic refinements can prevent the bicycle theft.

•  Connect instead of lock: Nothing seems more logical than securing the bike with a lock. But there are significant differences here. It is always recommended to lock the bike to the frame and the front and rear wheels to a solid object. Make sure that the bicycle with lock cannot be lifted over it.
• Height of the bicycle lock: When attaching the lock, it is also advisable to make sure that it is connected quite high up, such as on the crossbar. Many thieves use a bolt cutter and benefit from their own body weight when breaking open the lock. The deeper the lock, the greater the leverage.
• Secure accessories: Dismountable parts such as wheels can also be secured with the lock. For accessories such as bicycle lights,
• Safety in a group: If you have several bikes, it is helpful if the bikes are also connected to each other. This increases the effort required to break the locks.
•  Transport security: It is also advisable to connect the bikes when transporting them on the roof rack or trailer hitch. Waiting at traffic lights or during a short toilet break at the motorway service area has already led to some unpleasant surprises.
• No force of habit: Especially when commuting to work or school, it makes sense to change your parking space again and again. This way, thieves cannot easily find out when and where the bike is regularly left unattended for several hours.
•  Choice of location: Illuminated streets with busy public traffic provide additional protection for the bicycle. The inhibition threshold sinks in unobserved and dark side streets. In some cities there are already video-monitored bicycle garages where the bike can be safely parked. Please note the opening hours, as such garages close overnight, for example at universities.
• Home advantage is no protection: Parking the bike in the backyard of your familiar surroundings always seems quite safe at first glance. But even the well-known neighbours sometimes have dubious acquaintances and even the postman may accidentally leave the door open. Therefore: safe is safe - so connect it properly at home.
•  The dilemma of the combination lock: No matter how much it takes up your memory, you should not use birth years for combination locks. A four-digit numerical sequence beginning with 19 or 20 is cracked very quickly.
•  Uniqueness: In most cases, the aim of bicycle theft is resale. The more distinctive the bicycle, the harder it is to resell at the flea market. Here, "keep your eyes open" also applies when buying a second-hand bicycle. Also the bicycle bargains you have gotten yourself should be checked. If a stolen bike is identified, the new bike must be returned to its original owner. The purchase price will most likely not be refunded by the illegal seller.

Unfortunately, despite precautionary measures, the bicycle can be stolen. A detection rate of only 15.1% by the police is not a good prospect. However, to increase the chance that the bicycle will be recovered or compensation paid, the following tips are helpful:

• Coding of the bicycle: An encrypted personal code can lead to the stolen bicycle being returned to its rightful owner if it is found. The numbering consists of information on the place, owner, address and year and can be identified by the police even without a database. The coding can be engraved or stuck on the frame. The ADFC offers such a coding for about 15 €, whereby there are discounts for members. More information can be found here.
• Know bicycle facts: If the stolen bike luckily turns up again, the owner must be able to identify it. The frame number, make and special features help in this process. You can record such information in a bicycle passport, which you can obtain from the bicycle dealer, the police or the insurance company.
• Clarify insurance cover: Bicycles and eBikes are covered by the household insurance if they are stolen from a closed garage or secured property. An additional clause extends the household insurance to cover theft on the open road. However, in the case of high-quality bicycles with, for example, a Pendix eDrive drive, bicycle insurance is also advisable, as the household insurance only covers a maximum of 5% of the insured household contents for an eBike outdoors. These insurances can be supplemented by a pick-up service and an all-round carefree package. You can find an overview of bicycle insurance providers here.
• Report theft: Even though the rate of bicycle theft detection is low, it's worth reporting the theft to the police.