Unfortunately bike theft continues to be all too commonplace across the UK with many bikes being stolen to order by organised crime gangs.

Police in the North East today said around 60% of all bike thefts occur when the owner didn’t secure their bike, either forgetting to or believing it was safe.

While large numbers of believed-to-be stolen bikes are recovered each year, the police are unable to return them or prosecute offenders as the owner cannot be traced.

1 REGISTER IT
Register your bike on a secure, Secured by Design (SBD) recognised national database. The police will check these databases if they find bikes in the possession of a criminal or in the street to identify the rightful owner.A bike carrying a database stamp is a highly effective, visible deterrent to bike thieves as they know that if they are caught with a registered bike they will be arrested, as the rightful owner can be traced by the police within seconds.

2 RECORD IT
Remember to record as many details of your bike as you can, such as the make/model, size, colour, frame number (normally found underneath the bike between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in), plus any other distinguishing features, and take a photo.

3 SECURITY MARK IT
Security marking your bike using a SBD recognised forensic asset marking or etching kit is another highly effective, visible deterrent to thieves and an established method of reducing theft.

4 DOUBLE-LOCK IT, SECURE IT AND LOCK THE LOT
It can take thieves as little as a few seconds to cut through some locks that haven’t achieved the Police Preferred Specification, so use two good quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock (sometimes referred to as a U-lock).

• Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre.

• Lock the frame and both wheels to the cycle parking stand. Locks are considered more vulnerable when they come in to contact with the ground, so keep them off the floor.

5 REMOVE THE REMOVABLE BITS
Take parts that are easy to remove with you, such as the saddle or wheels. Or use locking skewers or nuts which can increase security by securing the bike’s components to the frame permanently, making it difficult for thieves to steal detachable parts.

6 PARK SECURE
Lock your bike at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV. Secured cycle hubs and racks are provided by local councils and business, however, while some of these products are security tested some are not, so be wary.

Avoid leaving your bike in isolated or dimly lit places, always leave your bike where a potential thief will have to perform in public!

• Don’t lock your bike to an open-ended structure such as a sign post – thieves just lift the bike over the top of it.

• Avoid locking your bike against a gate or wall, thieves will often use leverage against the wall or gate to break the bike lock.

• Electric bikes are very expensive, so try not to leave in the same place on a regular basis – it may be noticed and stolen to order by a determined thief.

7 KEEP VALUABLES SECURE WHEN CYCLING
Always keep your valuables secure when cycling. Don’t put them in open baskets or panniers.

8 BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Always pay attention to your surroundings, especially whilst stationary. Thieves target unsuspecting cyclists for both their valuables and their bikes.

9 REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR BIKE SAFE WHEN TRAVELLING BY CAR
Keeping your bikes safe while on a roof rack or rear carrier of a vehicle is just as important as keeping it secure at home or work, as it can take an opportunist thief only seconds to steal your bike when you park your vehicle.

• Always pay attention to where you park your car, and ensure it is parked in a well-lit, busy location where the actions of any thief would be visible to people.

• Ensure that you have good quality locks visible and in use on your bikes and remove the removable bits like saddles whilst travelling.

10 REMEMBER SAFETY BEGINS AT HOME
This is very important to remember, as many bikes are stolen at home. Statistics show that bike thefts are most likely to occur in a semi-private location near the victim’s home; this includes outside areas on the premises and garages around, but not connected to, the home.

• Take the same care to lock your bike securely at home as you would on the street.

• Ground anchors can be used together with shed or garage alarms, which can be connected to your house alarm system.

• Doorbell and external security cameras can also be used as a deterrent to thieves.

You may wish to consider bringing your bike indoors if you don’t have appropriately secure external storage.

Lock your bike as described above in a securely locked garage or shed ensuring either is well maintained and the bike is hidden from view.