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How to protect your bike from theft at home

Posted on May 12, 2013 by tarahamilton

You may think that your wooden garden shed is substantial enough to keep your bike protected from the prying eyes and quick fingers of thieves, but you’d be wrong! A large amount of bike thefts take place at home and the majority of those bikes are stolen from wooden garden sheds or garages and these type of thefts will be on the increase as we head into summer.

Recently, a shed in Westhoughton has fallen victim to this crime and the unlucky owner of the shed has lost 3 bikes of great value totalling £9,000. It didn’t take long for the thieves to make their way into the garden and force their way into the shed, in the early hours of the morning, to steal the bikes. With an earlier sunrise, there are more opportunities for bike thieves to work in good light conditions, without risking being caught.

Protect your bike from theft

Neighbours of the victim said:

“I am really surprised as it’s a quiet street. Nothing like that usually happens. I hope they manage to find the thieves and bikes.”

“I am a light sleeper and I didn’t hear a thing.”

Stories like this show that you can never be too careful when it comes to keeping your bikes safe at home.

One of the best ways to protect your bike from theft, is by investing in an Asgard bike storage unit. These metal bike sheds are made from tough weatherproof steel and have been designed to give you the best protection for your bikes. Asgard bike sheds are fitted with pick resistant euro cylinder locks and have integral metal bases for the best security.

Asgard best selling bike storage

“Excellent product. Delivery service was great. Product heavy weight and very sturdy. Easy to follow instructions. Easy access to contents. Very secure.Very happy with purchase” Revive

View the full range of Asgard bike storage on the Asgard website.

Filed under: asgard, Bicycle Security, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycling, Metal sheds | Tagged: asgard bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycle storage | Leave a Comment »

Is this the new bike theft deterrent?

Posted on April 26, 2013 by tarahamilton

A team from Newcastle University may have found a new way to deter bike theft. The team decided to test out a theory that people behave better when they think they are being watched. Research has been carried out for 2 years, by placing pictures of staring eyes above cycle racks around the university campus.

It was found that there was a 62% drop in crime rates at the bike racks which featured these pictures and the bike racks without these pictures saw thefts increase by 63%.

Due to the massive positive effect that this has had on crime rates at the university, it is now being tested at various train stations by the British Transport police.

This may prove to be an effective way to deter bike theft from public areas, however this may become less and less effective as thieves realise there is no real threat behind the image.

This may work in a public place, but we’re pretty sure it wouldn’t have the same effect at some one’s home. Make sure your bike is fully protected from theft at home, by keeping it locked away securely and out of sight.

If you’re looking for secure home bike storage, Asgard metal bike sheds offer fantastic protection against theft. See the full Asgard metal bike shed range here.

Statistics provided by BBC News.

Filed under: asgard, Bike storage, bike theft, cycle theft | Tagged: Bike storage, bike theft, cycle storage, cycle theft | Leave a Comment »

Anti-theft bike stand

Posted on April 21, 2013 by tarahamilton

A new bike stand has been designed to offer cyclists secure bike storage in cities. This new concept of bike stand is an anti-theft lock stand created by R&D Core. The bike stand works by rolling the bike into grooves in the ground. When the stand is activated, a lock attaches the bike frame to the stand and two bolts slip through the spokes of each bike wheel, immobilising the bike. The user can then access their bike using smartphone or smartcard. This new concept may be just what is needed to stop bike theft away from the home in its tracks.

New concept bike rack

Although many bike users are most concerned about their bikes safety when out and about, the majority of bike theft actually occurs at the home. Never underestimate the importance of secure bike storage at home. Reports of home bike theft are always increasing and as summer approaches, garden shed thefts will also be on the increase and your bike will be vulnerable. If you store your bike in a standard wooden garden shed, it is unfortunately only a matter of time before it will be stolen. Make sure you have the best protection for your bike at home with a strong metal bike shed.

Asgard best selling bike storage

These bike sheds from Asgard are made from strong weatherproof steel, fitted with tough locking systems and come with a wide range of features. Take a look at the full range of secure bike storage from Asgard.

Information provided by Bikebiz

Filed under: asgard, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycle storage, cycle theft | Tagged: Bike Security, Bike storage, bikes, cycle storage, cycle theft, cycling | Leave a Comment »

Beware of bike theft

Posted on April 17, 2013 by tarahamilton

With summer not so far away, more people will be using their bikes and these longer days means an increased risk of bike theft. According to the home office, in the months of June, July and August bike theft rises by an extra 25%! Recent reports have already been made this year about the increasing problems with bike theft and many areas are struggling to tackle the crime. This is particularly notable in places where the number of cyclists is significantly higher than average, such as Cambridge where 52% of residents cycle at least once a week and due to the large number of cyclists in the area, Cambridge has been named the UK bike theft capital.

Make sure that your bike is protected from theft this summer, by keeping your bike secure whenever it is not in use.

Bike security at home

Make sure your bike is covered by insurance
Invest in a secure bike shed
Don’t leave your bike unsecured in front of your home
Don’t store your bike in a shed which has windows
Use a ground anchor or shed alarm for additional security

Asgard twin bike locker

Bike security when out

Lock your bike in a busy and well lit area
Try and leave your bike in an area with CCTV
Use 2 different types of lock
Make sure your bike is covered by insurance

Filed under: bicycle locks, Bicycle Security, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycling, Uncategorized | Tagged: Best sheds, Bike locks, Bike Security, Cycle locks, cycle theft | Leave a Comment »

The Ride Journal Review Asgard Bike Storage

Posted on April 5, 2013 by tarahamilton

The Asgard Access 4 bike storage shed has been in the press again! Read the full review by The Ride Journal.

There comes a point in many cyclists lives where even they realise that they are pushing it with the amount of bikes they have in the house. A very tolerant wife had let my collection grow but even I knew that things were getting cosy indoors. And a load of redecorating prompted a search for somewhere outside to store some of them. Living in London it was always going to be a balance of cost, size in the already small back garden and security offered. As ever the internet gave lots of options but Asgard seemed to offer the best balance between the three. All that was left was to narrow it down to what model/ size. The 4 bike Access seemed the right one and was delivered.
In an ideal world I would have been able to wait until the warmer weather, whenever that arrived, but it was too slow in coming so I commenced on a freezing cold Sunday morning, brushing snow and ice off of the concrete base and continuing the build in very light snow.

Concrete base for Asgard sheds

My first recommendation is not to attempt anything in weather like this. The concrete base had been poured as per the instruction sheet and it was nice to know that the base would be the right size and more importantly level.

Access Bike Shed base

Drilling the holes to attach the base is hard work. A good drill bit is vital, as is some patience, all the hard work that you put in here is making it harder to remove by anyone else. This is the start of the security. Warmed up from the drilling it was time to begin the build.
The panels are well labelled and easy to navigate, via the instructions. Most of the job can be done by one person, its only when the heavy door needs adding that you need to enlist some assistance.

Step by Step building an Asgard bike shed

If you are used to certain Scandinavian flat pack builds the way things go together here will be a very different experience. You know when things are right, they tighten together nicely and there’s a satisfaction in knowing that the connections are tight.

Asgard bike sheds come with easy to follow instructions

Linked with this is the fact that the screws tap out the threads that they are being screwed into. This gives a super-tight connection which is good to have, but at some angles can make screwing in initially a bit tough. I found that with some of the hard to reach screws is was easier to run a screw in, to open up the thread a little, and then screw the two parts together. This meant that it was a little easier in the end.

Large double door access

Apart from drilling through the concrete the hardest part is getting the hinges on the roof lined up with the holes at the back of the shelter.

Easy Access Bike Shed Roof

The instructions are a little vague but a bit of logic lets you see the correct order before trying to line the holes up and push the bolts through. This is the point at which any misalignment will be apparent. Even with a specifically poured base we were out and it took some pushing, coercing and a little bit of swearing to get the first hinge attached. As is often the case the first is the most difficult and the subsequent hinges got a little easier, or we got better at coercing.

2 bikes still leaves plenty of space

With this out of the way it was a breeze to get the rest of the shelter built. Possibly due to the base being level we didn’t need to do any work to get the locking hinges lined up at the end.

How long did it take? I wasn’t really timing it as I wanted it to be correct rather than quick, but suffice to say I’ve climbed and descended Mt Ventoux quicker. My advice is not to rush it as something this sturdy should be in place for a very very long time, so why rush getting it built?

There’s still space with 3 bikes

Four bikes fit comfortably inside. If you have lots of very wide-barred mountain bikes you may have trouble with the width but with a selection of drop and flat barred bikes it was no problem. And there is room around the ends for a track pump and bike stand. I’m now thinking that some of the optional extra shelves might be useful for things like tools and oil.

The Asgard Access ideal for 4 bikes

With the shelter the main thing is security, I live in London after all. Having built it, felt the weight/ rigidity and quality of materials I am very happy. Short of using explosives I can’t see anyway that someone is getting to my bikes. Now all I need is my fingers to defrost enough to ride one of the bikes.

See the Asgard Access 4 Bike Storage Unit and the full range of Asgard Bike Storage.

Filed under: asgard, Best sheds, Bicycle Security, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycling, Uncategorized | Tagged: asgard bike shed, Best sheds, Bike Security, Bike storage, bikes, cycle storage, cycle theft, cycling | Leave a Comment »

Beat Bike Theft

Posted on February 9, 2013 by tarahamilton

As we know, bike theft is a continuing problem and figures show it is only getting worse. According to figures bike theft has become so common that it affects 1 in 5 cyclists. LV= insurance company found that a fifth of bikes are stolen within 6 months of purchase.

These new statistics have shown that bike theft has risen by 7% in the last year, however the true figure could be much larger as many as 30% of these thefts going unreported.

Have you been a bike theft victim?

Reports have also uncovered a shocking amount of repeat bike theft victims, as one in 20 have had their bikes stolen three times or more and this has cost victims an average of £220 to replace their bikes.

Research found that the most common place for bike theft is at home, with 30% of bikes being taken from sheds and garages. Make sure your bike is securely locked when you are at home. Many bike owners don’t take as much care with bike security when they are at home, as they feel less at risk of theft.

Keep your bike stored securely at home with secure bike storage from Asgard Secure Steel Storage. Our bike storage sheds are tough! If you are looking for the best bike security the Asgard Annexe is a High Security Bike Shed, with the best security for your bike. This garden bike shed has been approved by the Loss Prevention Certification Board to Level 1 and has been fitted with top security features.

Garden Bike Shed

The tough 5 point locking system, integral metal base and reinforced doors, hinges and panels all work together to keep your bike safe. See a full range of secure bike sheds on the Asgard Website.

Filed under: asgard, Bicycle Security, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycling | Tagged: Bike Security, Bike storage, bike theft, bikes, Cycle locks, cycle storage, cycle theft | Leave a Comment »

23 months before your bike is stolen, the clock is ticking!

Posted on January 12, 2013 by tarahamilton

A recent survey carried out by insurer LV found that on average, a person’s bike is stolen just 23 months into ownership. If you and your beloved bike are heading towards this milestone you will want to up your bike security.

This survey found that 1 in 5 bike owners have their bikes stolen after just 6 months. Most of the people surveyed expect to keep their bikes for 10 years, but with the rate of bike thefts rising this simply isn’t the case.

A third of bike thefts still go unreported as victims feel that there is a very low chance of ever getting their bike back. This lack of reporting leads people to believe that bike theft isn’t as big of an issue as it is made out to be. However, even with a third of thefts going unreported, bike theft has risen by 7% in the last year.

Don’t fall victim to theft

3 in 10 of those questioned said their bike was stolen from their garage or shed and a fifth reported their bike being stolen from their driveway. Fewer precautions seem to be taken when it comes to bike security at the home. However this is just as important as bike security when you are out and about. If your garage or shed is easily accessible, then it won’t take much for a thief to work their way inside and if you own an expensive bike it is possible that a bike thief has spotted you and followed you home for the chance to steal your bike. Reports suggest this is a particular problem in Bristol, with gangs following cyclist’s home and returning to steal their bikes.

If you are concerned about the security of your bike there are a few things you can do to ramp up the security:

Always lock your bike and use two locks when you can – a D lock and chain together is a good way to deter a thief.
Buy the best lock you can afford.
Remove all valuable items from your bike if leaving it in a public place.
If your return to find your tyre has been punctured, never leave the bike overnight, walk it home.
If using your bike at night, lock it up in a busy and well lit area.

Secure your bike at home

If you want more protection for your bike at home or live in an area that has been targeted by bike thieves, it may be worth investing in secure storage for your bike. Asgard has a range of secure bike storage units designed specifically to house your bike and cycling accessories. Asgard bike storage offers the best in bike security, providing you with peace of mind. These steel bike storage units are made from tough galvanised steel and are fitted with strong locking systems and pick resistant locking mechanisms, designed to keep thieves out! Check out the full range of secure bike storage on the Asgard website.

Figures and information provided by Road.cc

Filed under: asgard, Bicycle Security, bike chain lock, bike D lock, bike shed, Bike storage, bike theft, cycle theft, cycling | Tagged: bike, Bike storage, bike thefts, cycling, secure your bike | Leave a Comment »

Cycle theft. How to protect your bike at home.

Posted on July 20, 2012 by tarahamilton

Cycle theft is a continuously growing crime, in all parts of the country. An ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude won’t protect your bike from theft. In the UK a bike is stolen every minute and less than 5% of those are returned to their owners. Bike owners are more likely to have their cycles stolen than car owners their car. Westminster is the worst affected place in London for cycle theft with over 3,000 bikes stolen over the course of one year, followed closely by over 1,500 in Hackney. Over a two year period 45,000 bikes were stolen in London alone. In Oxford bike theft rates have soared to almost 3,000 in a one year period. The majority of bike theft goes unreported, in 2010 an estimated 533,000 bikes were stolen but only 115,147 were actually reported to the police, meaning that only 1 in 5 victims report bike theft to the police.

The top 10 police forces for bike theft in 2010:

Metropolitan police: 21,315

Thames Valley: 6,060

Greater Manchester: 5,185

Cambridgeshire: 4,477

Avon and Somerset: 3,895

West Midlands: 3,222

Leicestershire: 3,057

Lancashire: 2,727

Sussex: 2,668

Humberside: 2,440

With such high figures of theft, it should not be taken lightly. It is important to report your bike crime to the police if your bike has been stolen, to enable them to crack down on bike theft and gather representative figures.

Bikes aren’t just stolen when you are out and about away from home. They are increasingly being targeted when left outside the home or attached to cars in driveways. There are a variety of different methods that you can use to help protect your bike from thieves.

Bicycle Insurance

Insurance is always good to have, to keep you protected in case your bike does get stolen. Bike insurance is available from many insurance companies with premiums starting from around £50. Bicycle insurance does require that you: Lock your bike securely at all time, use an approved lock and secure the bike to an immovable object. Bike insurance policies vary greatly, see more bike insurance details here>

Bike Locker

At home it can sometimes be difficult to store your bike out of public view. If you do not have a secure garage or leave your bike out on display, your bike will become an easy target for thieves. There are a range of bike sheds available on the market. For maximum security Asgard has a range of secure metal storage units, designed specifically to secure a bike. Asgard is the home of the UK’s bestselling bike storage unit. Asgard pushbike storage can hold from 1 to 4 bikes, dependant on the size. With recommendations from industry specialists there is no better way to keep your bike safe outside your home.

Bike Padlock

A good bike lock is great in deterring thieves from steeling your bike. Don’t go cheap, invest in something heavy duty that will stop a potential thief from coming anywhere near your bike and secure your bike. There are a variety of tough bike locks on the market. Asgard have a range of bike locks on offer, and other security locks such as the alarmed cycle disc lock, which activates when someone attempts to move your bike. See it in action>

Register Your Bike

Register your bike on Immobilise, which is the national property register. You can register many items on here from computers to phones. If a registered item is stolen, immobilise makes it easier to recover your property, it helps police to identify stolen goods and simplifies insurance claims.

Statistics from The Guardian, UK Crime Stats, Oxford Mail, Eastlondonlines

Filed under: Uncategorized, Bike storage, Secure storage, cycle storage, Bike locks/security, bike locks, cycle locks, bicycle locks, security locks, Storing your bike, Bicycle Security, bicycle alarm, bike alarm system, asgard, cycling, cycle theft, bike theft | Tagged: Bike locks, Bike Security, Bike storage, bike theft, bikes, Cycle locks, cycle storage, cycle theft, Secure storage | Leave a Comment »

Your bike has been stolen, what do you do?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by tarahamilton

With bike theft a continuing threat, what would you do if you suddenly discovered your bike had been stolen? Should you leave it to the police, head round with some heavies or jump on the black-market merry-go-round and buy it back?At a loss? … the police warn against attempting to take a stolen bike back by force.

Your beloved bike has been stolen, and as per the advice all over the internet you’ve been scouring eBay and Gumtree for it. But if you do spot it, what next?

The obvious first answer is to contact the police; either your local station or, if you’re in London, the Metropolitan Police Service’s Cycle Task Force (cycletaskforce@met.police.uk). They urge bike owners to follow the 3 Rs – record, register (including a photo) and report (if stolen) – to maximise the chances of getting your bike back.

Reporting a sighting to the police does work out very well for some people. Charlotte Barnes and Julian Norman had eight of their bikes stolen from their garage, saw a couple of them for sale on eBay and got in touch with the Met Cycle Task Force. After a nailbiting week or so, all eight bikes were returned to them. Two people have since been arrested in connection with the case.

“I was initially concerned that they were taking quite a while before starting work on our case,” Charlottesays. “It just reflects how thin they’re stretched fighting cycle crime inLondon.” The statistics bear that out: only 2% ofLondon cycle crime was “detected” last year (ie with a suspect charged), although the number of returned bikes is probably a little higher than that. Nationwide, it’s estimated that around 5-8% of stolen bikes are returned to their owners.

According to Vicky Barnes of the Met, “each case is dealt with individually, and the length of time to act will vary”. Inevitably, given the numbers, there’s a risk that a bike will be sold on before the police are able to tackle the case. If you don’t think the police will act fast enough, what are your other options?

It might be tempting to round up a couple of hefty mates to have a “chat” with the thief. That advice certainly shows up a lot on bike forums – largely, it seems, from people who’ve never actually tried it. WhileCharlottedid know of a couple of people who’d successfully applied “overwhelming strength of numbers”, she and Julian never seriously considered that option. It’s certainly far from safe – remember, you’re dealing with people who are already on the wrong side of the law – and the police strongly recommend against it.

If you’re really desperate to get your bike back and you’re worried that the police won’t get there in time, it may seem safer (if infuriating) just to show up and buy it back.Charlotteadmits that winning the eBay auctions was their backup plan, “which gave us the option of turning up to collect them with local officers in tow”. Paying a thief for your own bike is going to be painful – but is it more or less painful than losing it?

Even then, it’s not that straightforward. There’s the known scam in which the seller mugs you for the cash when you turn up to buy the bike. Worse, if you’ve already contacted the police, by getting in touch with the seller you might screw up their operation.

Jon C saw his stolen bike being offered at a “seriously cheap” price online, with the police unable to investigate for a couple of days. Nervous that it would go, he phoned the seller, thinking he might just buy it back. When the arrangements began to increasingly seem like a setup for a mugging, and no local police officer was free to go along with him, he reluctantly backed out. Afterwards, the seller stopped answering the phone, the police were unable to go further and the bike is still sadly missing.

Agonising though the wait is, it probably is best to pass it on to the police and hope for the best. You can always fill in the waiting time by getting over those nagging feelings of disloyalty to your old steed early and planning the replacement bike you’ll get if it all goes to pot.

Motorcycle Storage from Asgard

Posted on June 4, 2012 by andyheath

We have found another online review! Remember if you submit a review directly to Asgard you could win prizes!

Asgard Motorcycle Garage

“I bought an Asgard Motorcycle garage about a year ago. I was somewhat stunned by the cost – at £1000 for a shed, I thought … mmnn maybe not – then after a local builder wanted 5k to build me a garage of similar proportions +planning permission and I went for the shed.

The process: Ordered online after 1^st phoning and checking they were a real company. The shed is approved by a number of companies, however I am always suspicious of online companies.

The shed took 23 days to arrive. Quite a site when it arrives, a very daunting pile of a dozen or so large metal panels. The panels are very heavy and required two people to manoeuvre. They have got trip to casualty written all over them, panels this heavy made from metal could result in lost fingers. A pair of gloves are a must.

There were plenty of screws sent with it – again – quite daunting. The instructions were nice and clear, though written by engineers, you can just tell, they have a technical look about they are well illustrated though. Two of us got the shed together in 90 mins - all the bits were there and everything went together very well. A word of warning, the shed has a metal floor, but also a wooden subfloor which sits over the metal floor to protect your tyres. These bits of wood are unbelievably heavy and a tight fit – watch the fingers with these, they suddenly drop into position.

This is the same for the roof panels, they are also reinforced so very heavy, when you are lifting them on to the structure, they suddenly fit into place and drop into some slots – be careful.

The lock system is super. Bolts, reinforced doors and a casing around the rear of the lock gives me real assurance this should be a good safe house for my bike.

As the unit is quite high and wide, I am able to perform basic maintenance with the bike in the shed, which is a bonus, though it is quite dark at the back.

I would recommend this product without hesitation – just be careful with your fingers”.

To see the Asgard range of Motorcycle Storage see the main motorbike storage category here

Filed under: Best sheds, Bike storage, bike theft, motorbike locks, motorcycle lock, Quad bike security | Tagged: Best sheds, Bike locks, Bike Security, Bike storage, bikes, Metal sheds, Motorbike storage, Motorcycle security | Leave a Comment »

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How to protect your bike from theft at home

Is this the new bike theft deterrent?

Anti-theft bike stand

Beware of bike theft

The Ride Journal Review Asgard Bike Storage

Beat Bike Theft

23 months before your bike is stolen, the clock is ticking!

Cycle theft. How to protect your bike at home.

Your bike has been stolen, what do you do?

Motorcycle Storage from Asgard

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