Theft of electric bicycles, how to avoid it
Theft of electric bicycles is one of the main problems you may face if you choose this means of transportation. Therefore, we want to do our bit and tell you how to prevent this unpleasant situation. Will you join us?
How to prevent the theft of an electric bicycle?
This vehicle is in vogue in Spain due to its performance and versatility. In fact, you will have no trouble finding one if you walk around your local area. However, the market for these bicycles and how valuable they are are is well known to those who love to steal them.
To give you a fairly rough idea, the 2019 Bicycle Barometer. warns that 17.8% of users have had their bike stolen in the last 5 years. Specifically, Seville and Barcelona top this ranking as the places where most thefts occur.
In this situation, GPS systems are available that can be installed on the vehicle to locate and recover it in case of theft. You can even take out bike insurance to cover the value of your bike if it is taken away from you. However, the following tips are more oriented towards prevention and how to avoid the theft of an electric bicycle. Take note!
Get a specialized padlock
The first step to take is, without a doubt, to invest in a quality bicycle lock. quality bicycle lock. Those with a “U” or fork shape are the safest, although their weight is one of their main disadvantages. These are attached to the bike frame and its rear wheel. To increase security, you can also choose to place a lock on your front wheel that has a spiral shape and is also foldable.
Some of these systems have an alarm for your urban electric bike. These should be located half a meter above the ground, which will make them more visible and detectable by security cameras. Just don’t tie them to fences, trees or street furniture, as they are easy to cut. If this device is very expensive, it never hurts to use more than one padlock. Some models are specifically prepared to secure your wheels and saddle. Treat your vehicle as if it were a safe.
Uses nuts on the wheels and saddle.
Padlocking is practically mandatory if you don’t want problems. However, sometimes it is not enough to prevent items from being stolen from your vehicle, such as the saddle and wheels. In this regard, we recommend that you replace your quick-release fasteners with nuts.
The seat post usually has a quick-release lever lock and that is where you should place a nut. Obviously, this does not prevent it from being stolen with a wrench or allen wrench. However, this situation is not the most common (thieves do not usually carry these tools with them), so you will protect your vehicle with greater assurance. In your case, you can always carry them comfortably with you in a tool case.
Always park your bike in public places
In addition to adding anti-theft devices, there are other measures to be taken to avoid problems in the short and long term. We talk to you about prevention, and more specifically, not to be overconfident for a single moment. No matter how short a stop you have to make, you should always padlock it. Otherwise, you run the risk of having it stolen. Therefore, whenever possible, choose to park it in public spaces where there is a lot of foot traffic. This way, it will make it more difficult for thieves to risk stealing your bike in front of everyone. If you are going to park it in a subway parking lot, make sure it has surveillance cameras and security personnel.
Remove small conspicuous elements
If you are a lover of electric bicycleIf you are an electric bike lover, you most likely have a lot of accessories built in. If so, we strongly recommend that you remove them if you are going to park it on the street. Items such as the potentiometer and mandatory nighttime running lights are just some of the examples.
In the event that you carry a basket or bag on the front or back, it is also recommended that you carry it with you.
Don’t even trust your own parking lot
Keeping it in your garage is not a sign of safety, especially if it is communal. For this reason, always make a habit of using a padlock in your parking lot.
Similarly, if you store it in a storage room, in addition to putting the padlock on, make sure you lock the door properly. It seems obvious, but many times, in a hurry, you can get lost and leave it open.
Do not leave your electric bicycle in dark areas
Unfrequented spaces are the favorite places for thieves to carry out their robberies. With fewer people passing by, you have less chance of someone else being able to help you stop them or even identify them later when it comes time to file a report. And this is well known to thieves. Therefore, the more people on the street, the more you reduce the chances of theft.
Similarly, dark areas are another area where you should be wary. If you are staying late or sleeping over at a friend’s or relative’s house, park it in a place with good lighting, such as a square or main street. However, it is best in these cases if you are allowed to bring it inside the house.
Keep your bike in sight
Many times, you’ll be going about your business and you’re likely to lose sight of it at some point. Try to keep it to a minimum. However, this does not mean that you should not put a lock on it, since anyone could easily climb on it and take it away. In this way, you will be able to use your vehicle to move around your daily routine without any problems.
In summary, the theft of electric bicycles is largely preventable if you take the appropriate measures. Thanks to these tips, we are sure that you will be much more prevented. In Biciclasica we have the best models and accessories to ride with total comfort. Visit us!
