How to minimise the risk of bicycle theft?

1. Choosing THE best lock for your bike

Many of us fear bike theft, and that's legitimate, but did you know that the majority of thefts occur because cyclists don't know how to properly secure their bikes? Rest assured, this is not an end in itself, there are solutions!

The first step to avoiding theft is obviously to buy a sturdy lock. Like super mega strong. But then, what is the strongest type of bike lock on the market? The most secure bike lock is without hesitation the U-lock.

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• Buy a U-shaped lock: according to the FUB (Fédération française des Usagers de la Bicyclette), after many tests (find the table here), the U-shaped lock is the best protection against theft. We recommend the Kryptonite ones with a security level higher than 7/10, especially the Fahgettaboudit. The advantage of Kryptonite brand locks? They have a double lock on the handle that would force a thief to cut the strong lock twice. Good luck!
  • Complete the U-lock with another lock: the U-lock protects your bike frame but the wheels and saddle are still vulnerable. A flex cable lock or a wider U-lock will do the trick to protect the rest of your bike. Kill two birds with one stone with the mini 7 Flex lock.
    There are also saddle and front wheel locks where the quick releases are replaced by nuts, We highly recommend it to prevent your bike from being stripped!

  But be careful, never leave your bike alone attached with a cable lock. It would be stolen in no time with a simple cutting pliers, or even with your bare hands...Proof in pictures!

  With a quality U-lock, complemented by another lock, frankly, you are already extremely well protected against the risk of theft. We still have a few more recommendations to be on top of things.

  2. Parking at strategic locations

  <I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to do that.

  Now that you have your locks, the next question is how to use them properly when you stop:

  • Always tie up your bike! And that's even for a minute stop (30 seconds is already too much, even for your baguette at the corner bakery...). Still it must be well attached. Don't do like the picture below... How to attach a lock to your bike? To properly secure your bike with a lock, it is essential that your lock attaches to both the frame of your bike and a fixed point. If you only attach your front wheel, this is not enough. It is very easy to take it off and ride away with the rest of the bike.

  • Attach your bike in a busy area: the busier the area (and surrounded by other bikes) the less tempting it will be for the thief to steal your bike.

  • Attach your bike to a fixed point: just because your two wheels are attached together doesn't mean your bike can't be taken to unhook the wheels away from the city centre. When you hang your bike, always remember to hang it on a fixed point from which a thief cannot just slide the bike lock off. For example, a power pole is a great fixed point, but if it's not high enough your bike is likely to get stolen.

  • Parking it in a shelter at night. Can you leave your bike sleeping outside at night with locks? Frankly, one night, two nights, why not. But ALL nights? We don't recommend it. You increase the risk of theft considerably. Problem: you don't have a bike room in your building and you don't want your bike in the middle of the living room every night? There are two solutions. Apply to your building manager to set up a bike room (if there are several of you, this can work) or subscribe to a bike shelter. Indeed, some cities have covered parking facilities, you can find out more on the website of your municipality. For Paris, find the procedure here. But make sure you secure it with your U-lock. You can finally sleep on your two wheels.

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  • Add a GPS tracker to your bike: the tracker marketed by the brand Invoxia is linked to an app that delivers GPS coordinates when your bike gets stolen. Find out how the tracker works in this report from Le Parisien, it's pretty impressive!

  3. Getting your bike engraved and insured

  There are many insurance policies available should your bike ever be stolen. Here are some examples:

  • Marking your bike: the Bicycode is worth €10 and is the equivalent of a bike number plate. A way to deter thieves but also to find your bike much more easily. To get your bike marked, you need to go to a bicycode operator. All you need to do is turn up with your bike, its invoice and your ID. Then register here with your tag number: you will be notified if your bike is found. Be aware that on new bikes, the Bicycode marking becomes mandatory. Remember to note down your number. It would be a shame not to remember it if your bike is stolen... You can use a permanent Bicycode, a label, but the safest way is to engrave it. To mark your bike, you can also use micropercussion, or chemical welding with resin injection.

  • Attach to a bike insurance : this insurance can be taken in addition to your home insurance, but pay attention to the conditions, sometimes drastic (quality of the anti-theft device, presence of the electric battery on the bike at the time of the theft...). You can also subscribe to Kryptonite's insurance by buying a lock from this brand (procedure to be found here). If your bike is stolen, you will need to submit a photo of the broken lock in addition to your bike invoice, and Kryptonite will reimburse you for the value of your bike.

  4. Act and react if your bike is stolen

  Unfortunately it would be a lie to tell you that with all these precautions, your bike is 100% protected from theft. There is no such thing as zero risk. It is a question of tools and time. In short, what should you do if your bike is stolen?

  Please note that this is not the case. What to do if your bike is stolen?"

  Often stolen bikes are dismantled and exported far away from you... And unfortunately, these networks continue to multiply with the rise of cycling as a means of transport.
  
  But then, what can we do about it on our scale?

  • Report the theft of the bike: file a complaint, indicating the distinctive features of your bike in your complaint and your Bicycode, the police will be able to contact you again if they find it. This also helps to keep track of bike theft statistics and to get municipalities to react. Local associations will also publish the announcement on their networks.
  • Search for your bike: bikes can also be found on sites for sale between individuals (Le Bon Coin, depot sale...). If you find your bike on one of these sites, arrange an appointment with the seller by directly notifying the police who can accompany you (yes, yes, they accept).

  400,000 bicycles are stolen per year in France and 150,000 are recovered. Obviously, there is no such thing as zero risk. Any lock can be broken, but a jigsaw for 15 minutes in the middle of the city is much less discreet than a pair of wire cutters. Thieves will therefore be more interested in poorly secured bikes. So remember that the better protected your bike is, the more difficult it will be to steal. You now have all the keys in hand to ensure that theft is no longer an obstacle to cycling on a daily basis.