Gone in 71 seconds - is your bicycle safe?
Gone in 71 seconds - is your bicycle safe?
UK (NewDesignWorld Press Release Centre) As we come under increasing pressure to save the planet, the lithe creatures that opt to cycle to work (or anywhere for that matter) are coming up against a darker force. And I don't just mean careless car and lorry drivers.
Bicycle thieves are cashing in on Britain's green conscience. The latest annual figures show that a total of 439,000 bikes are stolen each year - marking a 10% leap on the previous 12-month period and equating to one bicycle being stolen every 71 seconds in the UK, according to Halifax Home Insurance.
The insurer believes the dramatic rise in incidents of bike theft is as a direct consequence of increased bike usage, as Britons make an attempt to live leaner, greener lives. But data from the Halifax shows that Britain's rekindled love affair with bicycles is allowing thieves to pedal away with some £146m worth of stolen bicycles per year. That's almost one third of the £500m revenue generated by the British bicycle industry per annum.
Click here to get a quote to insure your bicycle
Do you live in a theft hotspot?
Worst hit is London which earns the dubious honour of being Britain's bike crime centre for 2006 - indicating a link to the rise in cycling commuters. The capital is ahead of 2005 hotspots, Kingston-upon-Thames, Cambridge, Bristol and York (see the table below to find out how vulnerable your bike might be).
Bicycle thefts are not as opportunistic as you might imagine and don't just happen to owners perching bikes outside shops while they nip in for a pint of milk. In 2006, 89% of all bikes were stolen having been left locked-up in a public place. 10% were left unlocked in public places and 1% was stolen from within the victim's property. With so many bike thefts taking place away from victim's home, Halifax Home Insurance is urging cyclists to check that their home insurance policy will cover their bike if it is stolen in a public place.
With most bikes, the cheapest way of insuring against theft is through your home contents policy. In fact many policies protect your bike automatically through 'all risks' cover for possessions outside the home. It's well worth checking though. Adding this coverage for a bicycle may cost around £10 to £20 a year. While you're at it, find out whether you are covered for liability protection if you are responsible for an accident when cycling.
But if you do claim, think carefully about the value of the bicycle versus the potential increase in home insurance premiums. Richard Mason of financial comparison website Moneysupermarket.com says these could be higher for up to three years after claiming.
Remaining uninsured could be the cheapest option for many cyclists whose bikes cost around an average of £200. But in line with demand, high-tech models costing up to £6,000 (yes, for two wheels) are increasingly popular. These are often stolen to order and may be broken up for parts so they cannot be traced. If you're in the market for one of these babies then specialist insurance is worth considering.
Click here to get a quote to insure your bicycle
Lock it up
To avoid becoming a victim of bicycle theft Halifax recommends a number of simple safety measures, such as fitting a U-type lock to an unattended cycle. The CTC says cheap locks often make theft easier but adds that even supposedly indestructible locks costing £60 or more can be cut through with the right tools. However, two or more locks costing around £50 each may work as a deterrent because they can slow thieves down.
The easiest targets for thieves are bikes chained up with the chain in contact with the ground. It can be split easily using a hammer and chisel. Battery powered bolt cutters carried in a rucksack make short work of other chains.
An electronic tag in the bicycle's frame means it can be returned to its owner if it is recovered and the details match databases held by the police or private registries. But you may get just the frame back.
Having a bike that isn't attractive to thieves can also help. Adding a basket or mudguards may put thieves off.
10 ways to avoid bike theft
1.Make use of special bicycle parking racks where possible and always lock your bike, regardless of how long you will be away from it.
2 If possible use a rack that is in a well-lit or busy area.
3.When not in use, keep the bike locked in an outbuilding or inside the house.
4.Always keep the door to the building where you store your bike(s) locked, even if you are just in the back garden - an opportunist will always take his chances.
5 Use a hardened steel U-type lock, as cable locks are easily cut.
6.Consider using anti-pry devices. These cover the gap between your bike and the object it's secured to, thus preventing a thief from inserting a tool in the void and prying or twisting the bike free.
7.Register your bike at one of the bike ownership agencies.
8.Use an ultraviolet pen to mark your postcode on the frame.
9.Write down the name, model and serial number of the bike and store it somewhere safe in case you need to pass on the details to the police.
10.Take photographs of the bike and keep a note of extras such as mudguards, high performance tyres and even water bottles, and other equipment you may have added over time.
"With increasing numbers of employers taking up initiatives such as the Government's cycle to work scheme, opportunities for thieves will only increase," says Vicky Emmott of Halifax Home Insurance. "One bicycle theft every 71 seconds is an astounding figure and should certainly make cyclists think more carefully about the level of security they use to keep their bike safe. With the majority of thefts coming from bikes that have been placed under lock and key, it may be worth considering spending a little more money for a high security lock that might stand a better chance of deterring a thief," she advises.
Make sure that you're getting the best insurance deal
Bike theft hotspots
Ranked by the highest number of claims in relation to number of policies held in each area in 2006, highest first. Average claim in each area also listed (not ranked).
Ranking 2006
Region
Average claim
1 (New) London £342.58
2 (1) Kingston-upon-Thames £420.03
3 (3) Cambridge £221.82
4 (4)> Bristol £360.26
5 (6) York £299.04
6 (5) Oxford £295.65
7 (7) Richmond & Twickenham £321.51
8 (New) Brighton £361.21
9 (New) Portsmouth £249.74
10 (8) Nottingham £257.91
Source: Halifax Home Insurance
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