Our Watch provides comprehensive advice for protecting bicycles from theft in the UK. They recommend registering bikes for free with Bike Register, the UK's only police-approved cycle database, to help police recover stolen bikes. Owners should take photos of their bikes and record make, model, and serial numbers. When parking away from home, bikes should be locked to heavy-duty street furniture with the lock off the ground when possible, and left in well-lit areas with CCTV. Locks should be independently tested (e.g., Sold Secure approved) and difficult for thieves to access. At home, bicycles should be secured in garages or sheds using quality U-locks or chains with padlocks attached to ground anchors. Using two different types of security devices is recommended, as tools that defeat one type may not work on others. Bicycle frames should be marked with the owner's postcode in two locations, one hidden. High-value bikes should be insured, and accessories like lights should be removed when the bike is left. The guide also advises against showing bikes on social media, using easily cut locks, locking bikes to railings or signposts, leaving bikes in predictable places, or in communal hallways. When reporting theft, owners should act quickly, providing frame number, cycle database number, photos, and other details.
