Protect your bike from theft

With warmer weather upon us, we've seen both an increase in bike riders as well as bike thefts. While a theft of your investment can take just moments, the inconvenience and financial loss will last much longer.

Preventative bike theft measures:

• Record serial numbers (regardless of the value of the bike) so that they can be added to police computer records, helping bikes be identified if located.

• Most bike stores keep serial numbers and information of your purchased bike. Check with your local bike shop to obtain that information if your bike does get stolen.

• Photograph your bike, as a reference, to assist police in identification.

• Never leave your bike unlocked in public. If securing your bike in public, use a high quality lock. In the same breath, don't trust locks as they can be removed with minimal effort. Take the extra step and remove the seat or a wheel as an extra deterrent.

• Never lock your bike by the front wheel only. Always lock your bike with two quality locks; use a U-lock and a cable lock. By using more than one style of lock it will take thieves two types of tools and twice as much time to steal your bike.

• If storing your bike at your residence, store it in a safe location using a lock or on your property inside a locked area.

• High end Mountain Bikes are often stolen from the back of a pick-up truck or vehicle in large parking areas, specifically malls. The most common example of this is multiple bikes hanging from the back of a pickup truck at a mall. Owners quickly drop into a business and when they return, a bike is stolen. If you are leaving your bikes unattended in the back of a vehicle, lock the bikes to your vehicle. Choose appropriate places to park.

• Secure underground parking lots at apartment/condo complexes are continually targeted every year, and in all seasons. Avoid leaving your bike on or in your vehicle as thieves find ways into the secure underground parking lots. If you are required to store your bike in a designated area, such as a bike locker, use a high quality lock as well and take the extra step of removing the seat or a wheel.