With the increase of cyclists taking to the roads for
commuting and leisure, An Garda Siochana has seen a corresponding rise in the
incidence of bike theft.
To give yourself the best chance of keeping thieves away from your bike you should:
· Lock a bike at busy, overlooked cycle parking
· Lock a bike with both wheels and the frame locked to each other and the stand
· Lock a bike with a strong lock and chain which reaches all the removable parts – steel alloy, kryptonite and titanium are the metals of choice
· Look for purpose-made, public storage options
· ALWAYS lock a bike or put it away securely, bike theft takes only moments
Also, it always pays to be prepared in case the worst should happen and you need to report a theft:
· If your bike has a serial number (often under the bottom bracket), record it, as it identifies a bike as yours
· Take photographs of your bike (ideally with you!), and highlight any unique identifying marks
· Always report a theft – bikes are often recovered some time after being stolen
· Regularly check the Garda Flickr page to see if your stolen bike has been posted there
