Opportunity makes thieves. But not only that. Let's not kid ourselves: If you want to steal your high-quality mountain bike at all costs, you can do it. You would probably need a money bin like Scrooge McDuck to reliably protect yourself against even the most unscrupulous of professionals and organised gangs of thieves.
The most important thing is never to leave your bike unsecured - not even for a few seconds. Especially at large events and festivals, a bike thief who takes an unsecured bike in a crowd of people and simply pushes it away - possibly wearing cycling gear - is guaranteed to go unnoticed. There are petty thieves everywhere.
For all cases the police recommend the bike passwhich you should ideally fill in immediately after buying your bike - or at the latest now. The bike passport records the manufacturer, model, frame number and important features of the bike. And take photos to make identification much easier. The bike passport is available as PDF and also as App. Then you need a really good and safe Bicycle lock. Saving money here is definitely saving in the wrong place. The last BIKE lock test showed: Bicycle locks are becoming increasingly secure, thin wire coils are a thing of the past and are at best good for short-term securing on tour. But even a good lock must be used correctly. Here are the top 10 best tips against bike theft:
1. connecting instead of locking
Simply locking the frame and rear wheel together is not enough, as the bike can simply be carried away. Always lock your bike to a fixed object - even if the bike is only parked for a short time. Make sure that the object is not so low that the bike and lock can be lifted out.
2. save parts
Connect quickly removable parts such as wheels with thru axles to the frame. Short locks are also sufficient around both seat stays to secure the rear wheel. Small additional locks and systems such as Pitlock prevent the theft of add-on parts. Always remove accessories such as bike computers, GPS systems, lights, bags, etc.
3. tightly closed
Close the lock tightly around the frame and wheel so that thieves have no leverage. The lock cylinder is best facing downwards and is difficult to access.
4. always in view
The more exposed the bike car park, the better. In hidden corners, not only the bike but also the thief is unobserved. Crooks are much more cautious in the field of vision of passers-by. Park your bike in the front row of large car parks if possible.
5. form gangs
If you are travelling in a group, secure the bikes with several locks. Parking brackets that can hold one bike on the left and one on the right are ideal. Double the effort for thieves!
6. during transport
Anyone who thinks their bike is safe enough on the bike rack is mistaken. A few seconds at the traffic lights or in the hotel car park when checking in or out is enough for a thief to make his prey. You won't even notice it in the rear-view mirror. Therefore, secure your bike on the bike rack to prevent it from being easily removed and attach it to the rack with a good lock. If you transport your bike in the vehicle, always take it out.
7. tuning can help
It may seem contradictory at first, but tuning can deter thieves. Customised bikes stand out more easily and are harder to get rid of. An off-the-peg bike is hardly recognisable.
8. note facts
Make a note of the brand, exact model designation, colour, equipment, special features and - of course - the frame number of your bike and document this with a photo. This is the only way your bike can be reliably identified in the event of theft.
9. coding
Have your bike coded by a bike dealer, a bike club or the police. The code not only deters thieves, but also increases the chance of detection. Carbon and ultra-light aluminium frames are not suitable for engraving coding. Use adhesive coding. Further information is available from the ADFC here
10. change of location
Whether at home or on the road: Do not leave your bike repeatedly in the same place for long periods of time. This gives thieves useful information about when they can strike undisturbed.
Emergency tips if no lock is available
If you absolutely have to leave your bike alone for a short time on the road but don't have a lock with you, you can use the emergency tips in the video above from our colleagues at the Global Cycling Network to at least prevent the bike from being ridden away quickly and possibly gain a valuable second or two to catch the thief on foot.
Don't give bike thieves a chance and always lock your bike with a secure lock. Because opportunity makes thieves - as the humorous video with a serious background of the unofficial European Bicycle Theft Championship proves:
But even if you think you've done everything right, it can still happen. Just when the bike and festival season starts, and the first warm spring days draw us out eagerly and euphorically, professional bike thieves unfortunately also sense their chance for prey again.
The mail-order company Radon Bikes was also a prominent victim of large-scale bike theft at the beginning of 2016: during a test event in Stromberg, the entire test fleet - a total of 12 high-quality carbon mountain bikes - and other guide and private bikes totalling many thousands of euros were stolen from the hotel basement (BIKE reported). We asked Lars Wiegand from Radon about the current status of the investigation:
How are the investigations going? Has there already been any feedback?
Unfortunately, there has been no feedback from the police so far. We have distributed flyers in the neighbourhood, whereupon several residents stated that they had seen a conspicuous van with an Eastern European number plate. We are therefore still grateful for any help that can lead to clarification.
What exactly happened?
The bikes were secured in a separate and locked storage room in the hotel. This room was broken into from the outside during the night. The thieves obviously knew exactly which door to break down and what was behind it.
Were the bikes not insured?
The insurance of the bikes is still being clarified - we hope for the best.
What did the analysis of the video data reveal?
Unfortunately, the video data was quite unusable. With the outside cameras, you can only recognise lights at night, but not people, number plates or the type of car. The hotel's interior camera was apparently forgotten to be switched on.
What consequences does Radon draw from the theft?
Basically, we work with additional security at every event, which we did without in Stromberg because we had our own hotel storage room. We will be using a security service from now on without exception. Nevertheless, we will be focussing even more than before on the safety of the bikes. We will have to rethink the concept of our in-house Test Days and we will have to assess the choice of locations even more closely than before from a safety perspective.
Do you have any tips for visitors and exhibitors at the BIKE Festival?
Tips for visitors:
- Never take your eyes off the bike. Even during the short "refuelling" stop on the tour, someone stays with the bikes.
- Always carry a lock with you.
- Never leave the bike in the boot of the car.
- Hotel rooms are better than the car boot room, but can also be used by many people. It is better to take your bike to your room (always check with the hotel in advance). If the hotel provides a room or garage, the bike should also be secured with a lock.
Tips for exhibitors:
- Always keep an eye on bikes.
- Set up the festival stand in such a way that "self-service" is impossible.
- Lock bikes at the stand.
- Thoroughly check the personal details of the test drivers. Conclude and sign the transfer contract/disclaimer (check the signature!!)
- Limit test drive times.
- If you have a bad feeling, it is better to refuse a test drive.
- Mark bikes conspicuously and as permanently as possible as test bikes.
- Make a note of the frame numbers so that you can make a more precise search if the worst comes to the worst.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
