homeBike security
Lock or lose it is the common-sense advice from all, but there more to the subject than just this... How to foil bike thievesUse a lock, for a start. Obvious, yes, but lots of people don't use locks or use flimsy cable locks. U-locks and chains can be broached by pro thieves but this article has advice from a bike thief on how to spoil his day! |
| Theft prevention This is a really good US cycle campaign group's article on bicycle locks and how to prevent your pride-and-joy from becoming a theft statistic. The piece is written by a "theft-free" bike shop staffer. |
| Lock it or lose it, says LCC Download a PDF or rich text document all about bicycle locks, security marking and cycle insurance. |
| Cycle storage and stands Scroll down this page to find a PDF download called 'Cycle Parking - FF37.pdf'. This a joint publication from Sustrans and CTC. "In order for cycle parking to be useful, a few important factors must be taken into account when choosing the design and location.This information sheet aims to avoid expensive mistakes and offer guidance on the best solutions." |
| Stolen bike index This Yahoo news group has a list of the most recent stolen bikes, as submitted by group posters. It only has 53 members so isn't likely to be terribly effective, but it's a good idea (albeit one that never seems to catch on...); |
| Registration This online registration initiative - fees £5.95-£17.50 - is now owned by Selectamark - see other link - and aims to reduce bike theft and assist with recovery. Bike Register claims that police forces across the country check the site when they recover lost or stolen bikes. Some of the supporter logos on the right-hand side of the site are very dated. |
| Bike Parking and Security Association This London organisation (shame it's not based in Sheffield...); lists all of its members on this page. |
| Nationwide Cycle Registration Pay a fee, register your bike. However, the stolen bike index was last updated in 2003 so the site may not be the most up to date out there... |
| Check Mend To help take the risk out of buying pre-owned bicycles, cyclists and traders in used bikes can check here if the bike they intend to buy/sell has been registered as lost or stolen on the Checkmend register. Checks can be carried out via SMS. |
| Definitive cycle parking guide This document is from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign but is applicable nationally. |
| Register to secure your bike Transport for London teamed up with the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police to include the registration of bicycles on this Immobilise website, a register that has demonstrated success in tackling mobile phone crime. There are already cycle registration scheme in existence but, significantly, Immobilise has the backing of Transport for London, an organisation pumping money into cycling in the Capital. The register is a system that allows the police to identify the owner of registered items of property. In addition, members of the public can flag any registered item as lost or stolen and this then appears on any police search. Link suggested by; Allan Davidson from Hull City Council |
