{"id":13015,"date":"2022-10-12T13:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T12:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2022\/10\/12\/bike-theft-what-to-do-if-your-bicycle-is-stolen-r8476\/"},"modified":"2023-03-20T08:51:16","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T06:51:16","slug":"bike-theft-what-to-do-if-your-bicycle-is-stolen-r8476","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/bike-theft-what-to-do-if-your-bicycle-is-stolen-r8476\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike Theft: What to do if your bicycle is stolen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tCrime is a sad reality of living and cycling in South Africa. While it\u2019s not something any of us want to think about, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of theft, and maximise your chance of finding your bike, or at the very least ensure that it becomes harder for criminals to sell stolen bikes.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThanks to our stolen bikes database<\/a>\u00a0we\u2019ve collected data since 2018 outlining the type of theft and number of incidents reported. As you can see from the chart below, theft from home is by far the most commonly reported incident, followed by bike jacking and theft from a vehicle.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"image.png\"Reported incidents by year by type according to listings on our stolen bikes database<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThere are certain measures you can put in place to mitigate your risk of theft, like ensuring you don\u2019t leave your bike unattended in public places. Lock it securely to your vehicle, but even when locked up, leaving your bike unattended on a rack is risky. Make sure it is stored as safely and securely as possible at home. Also be vigilant while riding, and where possible do not ride alone.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"image.jpeg\"Leaving your bike unattended on a bike rack is risky, even if it is locked on<\/span><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile prevention is obviously better than cure, there are steps you can take right now to smooth out the process after a potential future incident.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t1. Ensure you have the model name, year and serial number of your bicycle and reasonably up-to-date pictures, including any damage, or unique features that differentiate your bike and make it recognisable.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t2. Make sure you are covered. Bicycles are high-risk and expensive items, insurance is a worthwhile investment, particularly if your equipment is high-end.
\n\t\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tI\u2019ve been robbed. What next?<\/strong><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIf you have been robbed, here are the steps you need to take as quickly as possible:\n<\/p>\n

\n\t1. Report it to the police<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tComplete a theft report and get that case number from the South African Police Service.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThe police might not go out looking for your bike but there is good reason to report the theft to them:\n<\/p>\n