How to Prevent Bicycle Theft

Lock your bikes folks. We're not in Kansas anymore.

We hear about bike thefts almost daily at the bike shop. Customers tell us about their bikes being stolen out of their homes, off their front porches, from secured parking garages, and even from second story balcony’s (the record height so far is from the fourth floor). Bike theft is a huge problem!

The great majority of bikes are stolen because they are not locked. They're often stolen from places that are assumed to be a safe when in reality they are not, like balconies and secured parking garages. Sometimes people leave their bike unlocked for just a minute while they run in the store, only to return and find their bicycle gone. Sometimes bikes are stolen even though they were locked. That’s usually because the bike was improperly locked or because the lock used was not adequate for the circumstances.

Evidence as to what happens to stolen bikes is mostly anecdotal; however, the drug trade seems to drive a lot of bike thefts. Bikes are very liquid merchandise on the street. It’s estimated that they sell for 5% to 10% of their original value. Stolen bikes rarely surface in bike shops. We’ve only recovered two or three since we’ve been in business. They’ll pop up at pawn shops once in while, but the majority of stolen bikes seem to be sold on the street within a short time of the theft and never seen again. Chances of recovering a stolen bike are, unfortunately, slim.

According to Kryptonite, the original U-lock guys, New York has the “best” bike thieves; (apparently it takes a New Yorker to succeed where Superman fails). Universities and urban areas are favored hunting grounds. Boston has the most bike thefts. Fortunately, and surprisingly, Atlanta did not make the top ten on the high-theft list.

Nonetheless, here are some tips from Kryptonite to help you avoid being the next victim of a bike theft.

Always lock your bike: even in the garage, the apartment stairwell, or college dorm.
Lock to a fixed, immovable object like a parking meter or permanent bike rack. Be careful not to lock to items that can be easily cut, broken or removed. Be careful that your bike cannot be lifted over the top of the object to which it is locked.
Lock in a visible and well-lit area.
Lock in a location where there are other bikes. The chances are better that there will be a bike with a less secure lock than yours. Thieves will usually go for the easiest target.
When using a U-lock, position your bike frame and wheels so that you fill or take up as much of the open space within the U-portion of the lock as possible. The tighter the lock up, the harder it is for a thief to use tools to attack your lock.
Always position a U-lock so that the keyway is facing down towards the ground. Don’t position the lock close to the ground. This makes it easier for a thief to attack it.
Always secure your components and accessories, especially quick-release components, with a secondary cable lock.
Don’t lock your bike to itself (i.e. put the lock through the wheel and frame only). Lock it to something. Otherwise, it can be easily lifted and carried away.
Don’t lock in the same location all the time. A thief may notice the pattern and target your bike.
Don’t lock to anything posted illegal. Check with area law enforcement agencies for local bike parking regulations.
Always check your lock before leaving your bike to be sure you have secured it properly.
For the greatest theft deterrence, use two locks such as a U-lock and a locking cable. The longer it takes a thief to get through your bike security, the less likely your bike will be stolen.
These last two are from me. Never lock your bike at a Marta station. Take it with you on the train.
Register your bike. Check out The National Bike Registry