MAG remind bikers to lock up post lockdown to beat bike thefts
Fears that thieves will cash in on riders getting out and about
Bikers’ rights organisation the Motorcycle Action Group are urging people to ‘lock-up after lockdown’ as changes to restrictions mean more opportunity to get out and ride. Official bike theft numbers for 2020 are still being totted up, but early figures suggest that it dropped by as much as 60% from 2019. This was largely thanks to the pandemic meaning motorcycles were tucked away in garages more, and more owners were at home all day, but as many of us whip the covers off our bikes post-lockdown, the thieves will have more opportunities and there are fears that theft numbers could rise sharply. “We would all like to think that the 2021 motorcycle theft figures will remain low, but that is probably an unrealistic expectation,” said MAG’s Director of Campaigns and Political Engagement, Colin
Brown. Many riders will have used their motorcycles far less during 2020, but with the end of restrictions in sight that situation is bound to change. “MAG will continue to campaign for more secure parking facilities, and increased focus from police forces, but of course we need to be sure that owners also take security of their bikes seriously.”
As well as campaigning at a ministerial level for more secure bike parking, MAG will be pushing their ‘Lock it or Lose it’ leafleting and also their ‘Lock 2 Lock’ initiative which urges riders to loop their security chain through that of another machine in locations where no secure rails are provided. Brown added: “We should not become complacent, and new riders will need to be educated about the most effective security choices available.
“The simple message is to lock up your bike when parking in public spaces.”
MAG say they will be publishing the 2020 bike theft stats by police force area as soon as they have all the latest data.
‘New riders need to learn about security’ COLIN BROWN, MAG