Bicycle thefts lead to huge rise in claims
LOCKDOWN has seen huge numbers of people switching from four wheels to two as they take up cycling.
Sadly, this has brought the crooks out in force with another valuable item to add to their stealing sprees.
Between March and June, Halifax Home Insurance saw a 67% increase in claims for bicycle thefts, with 110 claims received in June, compared to 66 in March.
Tim Downes, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, says: “The country has gone crazy for cycling, with the wait for a new bike, or a bike repair, now stretching to several months.
“Although it’s great that more people are taking up the sport, opportunist thieves are resorting to robbery to get their hands on a bike.
“This passion for pedalling is likely to continue as the government develops more cycle lanes and people remain keen to avoid public transport. It’s therefore important to take the correct precautions to look after your bike.”
PROTECT YOUR BIKE
■ TAKE a photo of your bicycle and make a note of the model and serial number. If it does get stolen, this will make it easier to identify to the police.
■ WHEN leaving a bike outside, make it harder to steal by locking it to a fixed object, such as railings or bike rack and use a sturdy lock that’s difficult to cut through. A combination of a flexible lock, such as a cable or chain lock and a shackle lock, sometimes called a U or D lock, gives you more security.
Make sure the lock goes through the wheel, frame and fixed object. Think about removing parts such as the front wheel or saddle, making it less attractive to steal.
■ REGISTER your bike with a tracker website, such as bikeregister.com, so that it can be traced and identified if stolen. And mark the frame with an ultra-violet marker.
■ CHECK your home insurance policy covers your bike, and to its full value.