How to protect your bike against theft

The right lock

Experience has shown that no lock offers one hundred per cent safety, but that locks which resist cracking attempts for at least three minutes can effectively prevent theft.

U-locks, armoured cables and chain locks are particularly effective. Thin spiral cables are not recommended. It pays to spend a little more on the bicycle lock, to save you having to buy a new bike again only a short time later. A general rule of thumb: about 10 per cent of the price for your bike should be spent on a suitable lock.


The right parking spot

You have got a super lock for your bike? Great! Your choice of a parking spot is at least as important as the quality of the lock. Wherever possible, try to attach your bicycle to a fixed object. Suitable objects are fences, street lamps or, if nothing else is available, also a thin tree trunk.
The optimal choice are bicycle parking facilities/bicycle racks, which are fitted with a facility for attaching your bike.

But not only WHERE you attach your bike is important, but also HOW you do it. Please note: the frame must always be attached. The biggest mistake would be to attach only the front wheel, for it is easy to remove, and then the bike is gone.


Register your bike

To increase the chance of recovering your bike in the event of theft, it is recommended to have your bike registered. The police offers a bicycle passport for this purpose. In this passport, the frame number, coding, name and address of the owner and a photograph of the bike are recorded.

The bicycle passport is available in two versions: As a document for completion and storage, but also very conveniently as a free-of-charge app.


Individual design

Theft prevention which is fun, too! Give your bike a personal touch, make it as conspicuous as possible. That deters thieves and increases your chance of retrieving your bike after "spontaneous borrowing". Keep a record of all your bike's attributes (including its frame number, size, etc.).