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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 »

Boom of Black Market Bikes

Posted on February 5, 2013 by tarahamilton

New research by Insurance company LV= has shown that the bike black market could be worth up to £58 million. The bike black market is booming in the UK as the populations interest in cycling continues to grow and the people purchasing these second hand bikes, asking no questions about their background.

Has your bike been stolen for the black market?

The survey carried out by LV= on 2,000 bike owners showed that 21% have had their bike stolen and a third of these thefts occurred from a shed, garage or on their driveway. Bike thefts have also occurred away from the home, with 1 in 10 surveyed had their bike stolen from outside their office, bar or restaurant. While another 1 in 20 have had their bikes stolen three times or more.

If you are purchasing a bike second hand, it is important to ask questions about the bikes history before purchase to help ensure you aren’t purchasing a stolen bike. Although figures have shown that 4% of cyclists have purchased a bike which they have suspected to be stolen.

These figures show just how important bike security is, especially at home, as a third of thefts occur at the home. Make sure when your bike isn’t in use, it is locked away securely. Just because your bike is in a shed or a garage, doesn’t necessarily mean it is secure. Carry out security checks and assess your bike storage, could you break into it? If the answer is yes, then it’s not secure enough. Prevention is always better than the cure, so make sure your cycle storage is secure enough to begin with.

Secure Bike Storage

Asgard Secure Steel Storage is the home of the UK’s best-selling bike storage and has a wide range of secure bike sheds in a variety of sizes. This tough bike sheds are made from strong galvanised (weatherproof) steel and are fitted with strong locking systems and pick resistant locking mechanisms to keep thieves out! Take a look at the full range of cycle storage on the Asgard website.

Filed under: asgard, bicycle locks, Bicycle Security, bike shed, cycle theft, cycling | Tagged: asgard bike shed, Bike Security, Bike storage, bike theft, bikes, cycle storage, cycle theft, cycling | 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 »

electric bike sales were up in 2011, did the increase continue through 2012?

Posted on January 10, 2013 by andyheath

Asgard like to keep on top of the cycle market, Research from last year has shows Electric bike sales increased in 2011 did they continue to rise in 2012?

Electric bikes continue to amaze. In particular, the sale of e-bikes in the number one market of Europe; the Netherlands. Or has Germany taken over the leading role in sales in this particular bike catergory? 2011 e-bike sales in the biggest economy of Europe are estimated at around 200,000 units. Holland – the number 5 economy of the 27 EU member states – did only slightly less. 178,000 were sold; up 7% on the figure for 2010.

This ongoing growth is amazing. In particular for the professionals in the Dutch bike sector. Most of them reckoned that sales would level off as the first signs of saturation were supposed to kick in. That didn’t happen.

Despite a very cold 2010 – 2011 winter that hampered bike sales during the first months of last year; the end of the year tally of e-bikes sold still shows a healthy figure. Even more amazing when the very wet summer of 2011 is taken into account.

During July and August sales of regular city bikes were really badly hurt. Drops of 25% to 30% were recorded when the number of bikes sold were compared to the period for 2010. But, evidently the rain showers during last year’s summer didn’t affect the high spirits of the e-bike buyer. And that didn’t happen only in Holland.

Germany also suffered from a very wet and cold summer. But, e-bikes continued to be sold in big numbers. The biggest bike maker in the country – Derby Cycle – managed to double its sales of electric bikes to close to 90,000 units.

Electric bikes took up 15% of all bike sales in Holland in 2011. Such a market share, which is expected to grow even further in the coming years, calls for organizing a Dealer Congress. And that’s exactly what Bike Europe’s sister magazine Tweewieler did (for the second time) last December.

As I am the editor of Tweewieler too I was happy to be involved in organizing that Congress. In this issue of Bike Europe you can find a comprehensive report on this event that was visited by close to 300 bike professionals.

To sum up some of the important conclusions of this e-Mobility Congress; e-bike sales in the Netherlands will grow to a 25% market share in the coming years. This means that the market will grow to about 300,000 units.

Another conclusion was that by 2020 another e-bike category will have emerged which is expected to spike sales even more than e-bikes are doing now in Holland and Germany (and soon also in the rest of Europe). That category is made up by an electric vehicle that is a kind of cross-over of an e-bike and an e-scooter. The motorcycle industry is also convinced that such a new category will impact the market in the coming years; see the report on the ACEM conference elsewhere in this issue.

Store electric bikes and more in an Asgard cycle shed

Filed under: Bike locks/security, cycle storage, cycle theft, electric bikes, electric cycles | Tagged: electric bikes, electric cycles | Leave a Comment »

Stolen bicycles found in polytunnel in New Forest

Posted on December 21, 2012 by nazishs

Stolen bicycles found in polytunnel in New Forest

Police said thieves were targeting the most valuable bicycles, leaving others behind

More than 100 bicycles have been discovered in a polytunnel in the New Forest by police investigating a spate of bike thefts.

Hampshire police said at least 50 cycles had been reported stolen in the Lymington, Brockenhurst and New Milton areas since September.

The hoard was discovered in a polythene greenhouse near Pennington.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Three men remain on bail.

Officers said 28 top-of-the-range bicycles were stolen in the Lymington area in October, compared with one during the same period in 2011 and three in 2010.

Police said the number of thefts was comparable to Portsmouth, which has a population 14 times larger.

‘Quality D-lock’

Sgt Harry Wilson, of Hampshire Constabulary, said he believed a group of people working together were targeting valuable bikes.

Three men from the New Forest area, aged 20, 23 and 52, have been arrested and bailed, police said.

A 14-year-old has been cautioned in connection with a single bike theft and an 18-year-old man has been reported for summons in connection with a single bike theft.

PC Ian Cross said: “It is notable that almost every single cycle stolen in this series of thefts was secured using a chain or cable lock.

“These will stop the opportunist thief but a good quality D-Lock secured around the frame is by far the best deterrent to a determined criminal.”

Officers are now contacting victims of cycle theft and are urging anyone else who has lost a bicycle to come forward.

Beat bike theft with a Secure Metal Bike Store.

Filed under: Uncategorized, cycle storage, Bike locks/security, bike locks, bike chain lock, bike D lock, bike cable lock, bicycle cable lock, bicycle alarm, cycling, cycle theft | Tagged: Bike storage, Metal sheds, Bike Security, Best sheds, Asgard, bike shed, cycle theft, stolen bike, asguard | 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: asgard, bicycle alarm, bicycle locks, Bicycle Security, bike alarm system, bike locks, Bike locks/security, Bike storage, bike theft, cycle locks, cycle storage, cycle theft, cycling, Secure storage, security locks, Storing your bike, Uncategorized | 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.

Cycle Passports – Are They A Good Idea?

Posted on June 1, 2012 by andyheath

Police have launched a new operation to tackle the growing problem of bicycle theft in the county of Lincolnshire.

To combat a recent spate of thefts of bicycles, Lincolnshire Police will be holding a series of bicycle marking days across the area.

There has been an increasing number of bike thefts across the county, with 1,832 bicycles stolen between April and November 2011, a rise of 14 per cent.

The new scheme will introduce bike passports and encourage bike marking, along with the use of microchips that will help officers return bicycles to their owners when they are recovered.

Bikes are being stolen from a variety of locations, including sheds and garages, as well as being taken from outside shops and houses.

Over recent months the police have made a number of arrests and hundreds of bikes have been recovered but officers have been unable to return many of them to their owners due the lack of detail on the bikes given to the police at the time of reporting the crime.

During the week of action, local police officers and PCSOs will be out in the community delivering leaflets on crime prevention and handing out ‘bicycle passports’.

These passports record the details of the bike, including its make, model and frame number, with space for a photograph to be attached which is then put in a safe place. Then, should the cycle be stolen and later recovered, the ‘passport’ will help officers to return it to its rightful owner.

Bicycle passports will also be available from local police stations and many local retailers.

Secure a bike with a good quality bike storage unit.

Statistics found via the internet.

Filed under: Bicycle Security, Bike locks/security, cycle storage, cycle theft | Tagged: Best sheds, Bike Security, Bike storage, Cycle locks, cycle storage | Leave a Comment »

Bike Security Marking Helps Tackle Cycle Crime

Posted on May 29, 2012 by andyheath

THE owner of a stolen Brompton bike, which was security marked and registered on Bikeregister.com by the Cycle Task Force, has been reunited with it this week.

The six gear Brompton cycle was stolen when the victim left it locked in Islington Green on 20 January this year.

However, The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Cycle Task Force, part of the Transport for London funded Safer Transport Command, marked the bike on 18 October 2011 after the owner visited one of their marking events they held at East Finchley Underground Station. The details of the bike were registered on Bikeregister.com, the preferred cycle register for the MPS.

Officers from the Cycle Task Force then searched an address in Newham on 18 May and found the stolen six-gear Brompton, along with another Brompton that was also reported stolen.

The six-gear Brompton had a chemical etching applied by the Cycle Task Force, which was checked on the Bikeregister.com database, providing details of the bike’s owner and allowing the Cycle Task Force to reunite them with the recovered bike.

The second Brompton was reported stolen from Aldwych on 20 March 2012.

A 43-year old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and bailed to return to police in June.

Cycle Task Force Inspector Peter Salter, said: “The Cycle Task Force carry out regular bike security marking events across London and we are delighted that as a result, we are able to return a stolen bike to their rightful owner.

“This highlights how reporting crime to police and keeping information about items registered on property databases, up-to-date, assists police in restoring property to their rightful owners.

“We advise any cyclist to follow ‘the three R’s’ – record the details of their bike, register them onto the MPS preferred property database http://www.bikeregister.com and report any theft to the police. These are simple steps that all cyclists should take so that if their bike is stolen they stand a good chance of being reunited with it.

“Bike thieves should be aware that we will use the full powers of the law and range of tactics to track them down and bring them before the courts.”

Siwan Hayward, Deputy Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing at Transport for London, said: “This is yet another positive result from the Cycle Task Force, who on a daily basis work extremely hard to minimise bike theft in the Capital, and demonstrates the importance of cyclists registering their bike details.

“With the Mayor’s cycling revolution leading to an increase in ridership in recent years, we will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that London remains a safe and secure place for cyclists to enjoy.”

Andrew Knights MD of Bikeregister said: “This recovery shows the importance of applying a permanent visible mark to a valuable bike and then registering that code along with the serial number and bike details on a secure Home Office-approved database such as BikeRegister that is regularly referred to and searched by the Police. A particular problem the Police have, which BikeRegister solves, is tracing a genuine owner when suspect stolen bikes are identified or recovered.”

He concluded: “We are very pleased that yet another bike has been returned to its rightful owner thanks to the successful partnership of the MPS Cycle Task Force working together with BikeRegister.”

Secure your bike with a good quality bike storage unit.

Statistics found via the internet.

Filed under: bicycle alarm, bicycle locks, bike alarm system, Bike locks/security, cycle storage, cycle theft, cycling | Tagged: bike crime, bike theft, cycle storage, cycle theft | Leave a Comment »

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Is this the new bike theft deterrent?

Anti-theft bike stand

Boom of Black Market Bikes

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

electric bike sales were up in 2011, did the increase continue through 2012?

Stolen bicycles found in polytunnel in New Forest

Stolen bicycles found in polytunnel in New Forest

Cycle theft. How to protect your bike at home.

Your bike has been stolen, what do you do?

Cycle Passports – Are They A Good Idea?

Bike Security Marking Helps Tackle Cycle Crime

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