“Excuse me, you can’t leave your bike there” a woman climbing into her Toyota Prius stated.  A strange request I thought to myself, as bike racks tend to be a public space and there was three of them standing empty. “Oh sorry, I’ll only be 3 minutes”. I looked down on at the sorry remains of the previous bicycle resident in these racks. I couldn’t help but laugh that someone would want to stop me from locking my bike in such a clearly undesirable location.

“That’s my husbands bike, someone stole it last week.” I didn’t feel like preaching about his stupidity of only locking the front wheel. “Ah” I stated with a “I know how that is” look on my face.

Bikes left on the same rack in a predictable manner are easy picking for thieves. So what options do we have?

Obviously, indoors is great. But not everyone has the luxury of doing that. Especially, when you’ve come in from a ride in the rain and your bike is soaked.

If you have been graced with an outdoor area then a bike shed is another option. These can take up minimum of space and protect your bike from the elements and  thieves. There’s a range of these available and if your bike is relegated to the great outdoors then it’s worth considering. You generally have two options between a wooden version or a plastic storage container.

The wooden ones look good and aren’t too expensive. However, it doesn’t do a great deal to keep your bike away from moisture that causes rust. Though this can be treated every couple of years with oil based varnish to help the situation.

The plastic storage structure on the other hand whilst it doesn’t look quite as good, it does protect your bike more effectively.

Although London, being London, not a lot of people are graced with a garden. Many people end up carrying bikes up stairs or fitting them into tight escalators. Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough that our flat has a landing area outside with plenty of space to lock bikes. I’d be pretty stuck without this space!

The other option comes from a clever innovation known as folding bikes. These can easily be folded down and then stored away in a cupboard. Undeniably this is a great convenience for those that are happy to ride a folding bike.

Where do you store your bike when you are at home?

Method 1: £45 for a bike lock?

When you are buying a bike ask if you need a bike lock. Of course, the assistant will foolishly say yes – little does he or she know that you want your bike to be stolen. Play along but purchase the cheapest one you can find. I strongly recommend avoiding the Kryptonite New York 3000 as that is likely to majorly hinder theft. Instead, choose something that looks like it could be cut with a pair of children’s safety scissors.

Method 2: One is more than enough

Walking past bike stands you may notice a number of cyclists use two bike locks. Believe it or not, it’s even frequently recommended by police stickers left on bike stands! Fools! Little do they know how much they are inconveniencing thieves and how much they are decreasing the chances that their bike will be stolen. To that end make sure you only ever “secure” your bike with one bike lock.

Method 3: Time to play a game of chance

One of my absolute favourite ways of getting my bike stolen is to leave it somewhere unlocked. Preferably, my back garden. Then a thief is easily able to open the garden gate (of course leave this unlocked) and ride off with the bike. However, don’t restrict your creativity just to the back garden. When you pop in to buy some milk at the corner shop leave your bike outside for a few minutes unlocked – if you are lucky an opportunistic thief will have that.

Method 4: Take cue from the UK’s prime minister

One man who knows exactly how to get his bike stolen is David Cameron. Often known as the UK’s prime minister but less frequently known for his hilarious bike locking antics. To execute this method start by finding a post you can lock your bike to. The post should be have a maximum height of 1.5 to 2 meters. Just enough for a bike thief to be able to easily lift the bike off and ride off with it. Brilliant and hilarious!

Some people have also had success locking their bike to a post with a sign above it. Whilst common sense would say that a thief wouldn’t be able to lift the bike off they have been known to cut the top of the post off.

Method 5: You don’t need to be a Houdini

Someone who wants to get their bike stolen needs to be familiar with how not to lock their bike. Unfortunately, with an abundance of information on “how to lock your bike” this information has sadly often remained hard to find. This forum post provides some inspiration. The best thing to do is to focus on locking just one part of your bike. I highly recommend locking just the front wheel to a bicycle stand.

Of course, some strange people amongst you don’t want to have their bike stolen. In which case you might find these articles of interest:

• Good bike lock guide
• One method for making your bike less attractive to thieves
• London Cyclist’s share their experiences of how their bikes were stolen
• How to lock your bike
• How to prevent your bike from getting piranha’d

Image via LFGSS forum.

I remember well my bike being stolen outside college. I returned from my class, walked to the bike shed and it just wasn’t there. At first I was completely stumped and even started to wonder if I had actually cycled that day. Looking back it’s no surprise it was taken. It had a cheap £10 lock attached to just the front wheel. I wasn’t saddened by the monetary value of it (an old mountain bike) but more the fact suddenly I didn’t have my beloved bike to get me home. I talked to the security about any footage of the theft happening but they had nothing. Defeated, I took the bus to get home.

Share your bike theft experiences in the comments..

Important reads:

• How to lock your bike
• How to make your bike less attractive to thieves
• Unconventional ways of preventing your bike from being stolen
• Bicycle insurance

Image via Barry Pousman

A couple of my cycling friends have recently been victims of bike piranhas. They’ve come back and noticed their bike is missing a saddle or a front wheel. In the worse cases friends have reported coming back to their bike to find nothing but the frame and the bike lock.

Unfortunately, even using the correct bike locking technique not all parts of a bike a secure. A quick release saddle can be removed in a matter of seconds. What some people opt to do if the components are worth the money is to use lockable components.

This basically involves replacing the standard component fasteners with ones that can only be opened with a unique key. It is almost impossible for a bike thief to then remove parts off your bike.

This not only secures each component to your bike but it also makes it less attractive to bike thieves and reduces the number of locks you need to carry with you to secure different components.

Of course there are two downsides. The first major downside is it’s not cheap. But neither is it expensive compared to replacing those components. The second lesser problem is that you obviously need to keep the keys with you at all times in case you need to fix something on your bike.

Pinhead do a four pack of bike component locks for around £50. There is also a two pack just for wheels at £36.

So is it worth investing in something like this?

I personally haven’t invested in this and so far my bike components have stayed safe. I tend to lock my back wheel and frame whenever I leave my bike. The front wheel is not a quick release and so bike thieves would need a spanner to remove it.

If someone did steal my front wheel they are welcome to it. It needs replacing anyway! I think I can definitely attribute the lack of theft to my aging bike components. If I had an expensive new wheel or saddle I may re-consider.

The big potential advantage here is that the component locks are more robust than using cable locks.

I’d love to hear if you guys have this kind of security on your bike and whether you recommend it?

Leave a comment below..

Image via Dans Le Grand Blue

Luckily, it’s a quick and easy fix. Police are holding various security marking sessions around London and the nice people at TfL have sent me a list of where they are happening next.

Bike tagging sessions in London

Updated these today (6 September)

11-Sep 10am to 4pm Chiswick Common near Turnham Green, W4
19-Sep 11am to 5pm Wanstead Festival, Christchurch Green, High Street, E11
21-24 September All day Fresher’s Fair, Queen Mary’s University, on Mile End Road E1
22-23 September 4pm to 7pm Battersea Park, Battersea Park Road, London SW11 4ND
23-Sep 8am to 1pm Narrow Way junction with Mare Street, Hackney (inside St Johns Church Yard)
8-10 October All day Cycle Show Earls Court, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road, London, SW5 9TA

When you arrive at the marquee an officer will turn your bike upside down and place one sticker on the underside of the frame. This is the one that cannot easily be removed. He will also give you one more sticker to place in a more visible location. A copy of the frame number is then made, if you wish, to be registered into their database.

This means that the next time someone is stopped by the police they can check the frame number and see the security marking. Hopefully re-uniting the bike with its rightful owner.

Don’t have time to go to the police sessions?

If you’re pressed for time you can also use the power of the internet. A new start-up called Bike Revolution is aiming to get all bikes in the UK registered. They sell the Pulse ID tags which is  one of the cheapest and best ways to get a bike tagged. The tags are tamper proof and can be read by police.

The company is also aiming to build a big network of followers and make it possible for anyone to check if a bike is stolen using their mobile phones. This should hugely aid your chances of bike recovery if it is tagged as there is a much bigger army of people out there looking for your bike.

Bike Revolution is also developing various strategic partnerships with sites such as newly launched GoingGoingBike to make it harder for someone to sell a stolen bike. They seems to have great momentum behind them and have learnt from some of the mistakes of other bike marking companies.

Could we see bike crime drop by 50%?

Using similar techniques to those Bike Revolution is pioneering Norway saw a drop in bike theft by 50%. Therefore they are definitely pursuing a worthy cause.

Oh, and by the way the 57.5% figure is of course completely made up. Unfortunately, I have no way of scientifically judging how much less attractive a bike is to a thief though it would be interesting to see that figure.

Related posts:

• Bicycle insurance
• Spending the day with the police cycle task force
• Guide to good bicycle locks
• How to lock your bike so it never gets stolen

He turns to me and tells me “Registering your bike makes all the difference”. I promise him I’ll pass it on to London Cyclist readers.

P.C. Johnson loves his job in the cycle unit. He tells me he has 8 bikes and spent 3 years cycling around the world. He also tells me he has never had a bike stolen and that he locks it with an Abus Granit lock.

Bike theft is the main priority for this unit. Of course cycling around London is only part of their role. They are also running covert operations targeting sites such as Gumtree and using methods such as decoy bikes. This was the part I was most interested in but it’s also the part they are least able to disclose any information on.

I press the officers for some more tips as to how someone can keep their bike safe. They told me the old tactic of using two bike locks is the best. Then, making sure a bike is security tagged also helps. Anecdotal evidence suggests that bike thieves are now checking for registration markings when picking their target. The small sticker that informs people the bike is security tagged can be enough to put them off.

The officers also had a stern warning for anyone buying a second hand bike. If you are stopped and the bike is found to be stolen then you are technically handling stolen goods. They advice people that if they are buying off a second hand site such as Gumtree to insist the seller brings some form of ID, you meet at their house and you try to judge whether the bike they are selling is something they themselves would ride.

Policing on bikes gives the officers a lot of speed and flexibility. It also provides a very visual presence that can be reassuring for the everyone around. The approach of information, policing low level crime and targeting gangs through undercover operations should help bring down London’s bike theft.

To get your bike security tagged either head along to one of their sessions or use a free site such as Immobilise or Bike Revolution. I know for certain the Immobilise database links into the police computers.

See also:

• Why bike thieves should be very afraid
• Recommended bike locks
• How to lock your bike
• Would you like a fine or a safety course for jumping that red light?

Today this is set to change. A new 30 strong police force will now be guarding London’s bikes. They will be tackling both bike theft as well as vandalism.

As you will have guessed from reading this blog, I’m rarely a negative person. Therefore, my response to this news was to rejoice! My friend on the other hand, who likes to provide me with the negative viewpoint, pointed out that 30 people for the whole of London is hardly enough. But I’ll explain why he is wrong.

By tackling the organised side of the crime and catching a few of the key players you will see a major reduction in bike thefts. As long as these people are properly sentenced. The new team will be using methods such as police stings and covert operations that are likely to target these key players.

There will also be a renewed, and likely much more successful, effort to target thieves selling bikes on websites such as Gumtree and eBay. This will involve working with the websites to make it harder for people to list bikes without their full details and also targeting sellers. By removing the thieves access to a large audience you make it far more difficult for them to sell their stolen bikes.

Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing, said:

“London’s a great place to get around on a bike, but the experience of having your bicycle stolen or damaged, or the fear that it will happen, stops many people from cycling – which makes us even more determined to crack down on cycle theft in the Capital.

The new Cycle Task Force policing team will be dedicated to cracking down on bike thieves but will also work with Londoners to show them the steps they can take, such as ensuring they lock their bicycles securely, to help prevent themselves from becoming victims of theft or vandalism.”

While this is very good news for the capital and for encouraging more cyclists I recommend that for now you buy yourself a good lock such as the Kryptonite and know how to lock your bike correctly.

Hopefully one day we will be able to secure our bikes with one lock and know for certain it will be there when we return. This police force seems like a very good step in the right direction to achieving this.

See also:

1. How to lock your bike
2. Bicycle insurance
3. Kryptonite New York 300 review
4. Abus Granit Steel O Flex review

My first time was outside my college when I was 16. I remember it well. Everyone remembers their first time. She was beautiful. The most gorgeous mountain bike you have ever seen. Sure it was just a £200 bike from JJB Sports but I was young and I was in love. I looked around at the exact spot where I had left it but it was nowhere to be seen.

I’m sure a lot of people can recall their first time. Now we all know how to lock our bikes but maybe some times in takes more than that. Maybe it takes a little bit of thinking outside the box. A little bit of “blue sky thinking” if you will.

The first way to achieve this enlightened state of mind is to step into the shoes of a criminal. In my criminal heyday I stole a packet of cigarettes and maybe a few sweets from the local shop. The packet of cigarettes was a long time ago and the sweets was last Sunday. I’m kidding, they were both a long time ago. So, I’m not exactly what you may call a criminal mastermind. Yet, despite not been a criminal mastermind this is where I come across my first obstacle to unconventional prevention ideas.

If I was a thief and I liked stealing things what I would not steal is beat up old bikes. Yet, both my bikes that have been stolen were not worth more than £50 second hand. This puts a major dampener on my first unconventional idea: making your bike look ugly.

So if making your bike look undesirable isn’t a guaranteed solution what is?

My second idea is removing parts of your bike when you leave it locked. For example taking off the front wheel and locking it in a separate location? Then Mr Thief comes along, sees a bike with a missing front wheel and thinks: “unless I’m the king of wheelies there’s no way I’m stealing that”.

I don’t think this is such a bad idea. Though of course it is a pain having to find a location to leave my bike and then another location to leave my wheel and then having to rejoin the two. Even with a quick release it still takes time.

Another idea which may work well is to personalise the bike. When research was done into which wallets were returned and which were not they came to an interesting conclusion. Putting a picture of a baby in your wallet greatly improved your chances of being reunited. Perhaps this could also work with bikes. Perhaps I should print a picture of a baby and put it on my bike. I would certainly get some funny looks. Though a funny idea, I would presume a bike that had been heavily personalised would not be as sellable. So maybe you should litter it with stickers? The obvious downside to this is I don’t particularly want to make my bike look silly.

However, this is good, were definitely getting somewhere with our unconventional thinking. Let’s take it to the extreme level.

What if bikes were so cheap there was no point stealing one? What if everyone in the world was automatically given a bike for life as soon as they are born? What if we banned selling of second hand bikes? What if all bikes were fitted with GPS tracking? What if your bike wouldn’t move without finger print identification?

Okay, let’s cut back on the extreme thinking a little. For a start whilst the price of bikes may continue to fall, the most desirable bikes will no doubt remain expensive and thus there will still be a market for them. Banning second hand bike sales would be unworkable and wasteful and GPS tracking would no doubt be expensive. A bike for life could potentially work and would be very interesting.

Throwing these ideas around is a good thought exercise but one day I’m hopeful our bike theft problems may eventually solve themselves. If the number of cyclists continues to increase then maybe one day a bike will become such a commodity that we don’t even think about it. It would be like someone trying to steal your vacuum cleaner.

For now I’ll continue locking my bike with two different locks, in well lit areas, near to other bikes but I just might add a few personal touches.

See also:

• How to lock your bike
• Bicycle insurance

Bike Lock Tip 1 – Choose your location

Always make sure you don’t attach your bike to something that can easily be broken, moved or lifted off. Spend that extra 5 minutes when you are out and about to find a more secure object and your bike safety will be ensured.

Location tips:

• Well lit area with CCTV cameras around are the most ideal
• It is preferable to choose an area where other people are around and are frequently walking past. Never leave it in an isolated place
• Lock it near to other bikes – there is a decreased chance of thieves picking your bike as there will be easier targets around

Bike Lock Tip 2 – Buy the best bike lock

A cheap lock is a false economy so buy the best you can afford. I’m fairly sure I could actually chew through some of the bike locks I see in London! Aim to buy a D-lock with a cable attached to it.

If there is such a thing as a “best bike lock” then these two would be definite contenders:

Kryptonite New York Standard which is available at a surprisingly good price on Amazon. It would take a thief a very long time to get through this lock. It is one of the toughest and remains one of the most recommended bike locks. If you want to keep your bike safe then this is what you want.

The second equally well recommended one is the Abus Granit Xplus. It is very strong and unless the bike thief has some seriously heavy duty equipment it will not move.

Bike Lock Tip 3 – Use your lock effectively

• Lock the frame, front and back wheel to the object you have secured your bike to
• Make sure the D-lock is tightly fastened so it is not hanging loose between the bike and the object you have locked it to
• Face the D-lock (U-lock) keyway facing down so that they cannot spray liquid into it
• Don’t place the lock too near the ground as then it is easier to leverage them for attack

Bike Lock Tip 4 – Use two different locks

Two different locks will mean thieves need two different types of tool to remove them. They are unlikely to be carrying both of these. I always take my bag with me and put the two locks in there. The one lock is a d-lock and the other is a chain lock.

The bike thief will take one look at your bike with the two locks and will look elsewhere.

Bike Lock Tip 5 – Register your bike

A registered bike is less likely to be targeted. Obviously make sure you get a sticker that says it is registered to put would-be thieves off. I highly recommend http://www.bikeregister.com/ and http://www.immobilise.com/ if you are in the UK.

Bike Lock Tip 6 – Remove all accessories

A bike is less attractive without lights, the seat post etc so make sure you remove these if you have room to carry them with you.

Finally this excellent video below helps re-iterate the main points about how to lock your bike:

See also:

1. Bicycle insurance advice
2. Kryptonite New York 300 review
3. Abus Granit Steel O Flex review

The above criminal mastermind guide of “how to steal a bike” has been well used on the Conservative party leader.

This is the second time David’s bike has been stolen. He famously uses it as a green symbol (and presumably as a way of avoiding congested public transport). Recently however it was revealed that his chauffeur-driven car follows him to work with his briefcase and shoes. This has led some commentators to suggest a solution for Cameron: to have a car to follow the car that follows Dave’s bike when he’s cycling.

Before you shed a tear for David Cameron, remember that the first time the bike was stolen it was retrieved through a business man’s local contacts (Admittedly missing the front wheel). Lets see if that happens again. David of course is not the only one to get their bike stolen. Take for example Jonathan Coppack who rode his bike 6,000 miles for charity and then had his bike stolen from outside his home. Unfortunately, many cyclists do not return to cycling after a bike theft.

David, if you are reading this then maybe you should have checked out our video with tips on how to prevent bike theft and perhaps how to made your bike look less desirable.

In London new solutions to bike theft include an M shaped stand that encourages a cyclist to secure the right parts of their bike. The police have also trialled leaving notes to cyclists that have not properly secured their bike.

As for Cameron; oh well, lessons learned.