No chance for thieves! How you can protect your bike from theft.

The bike is gone!
If your own bike has been stolen, it's annoying and sad. Anyone who has ever had to greet a sad child at the front door knows: children suffer even more than adults. The bicycle is a companion in everyday life and is often associated with memories with parents, siblings and friends. Now it's gone. This hurts and the kids may even be annoyed because it could have possibly been avoided. We give tips and tricks that can help you prevent theft. Give the article to your kids to read too.

Complete protection is not possible
One thing first: Unfortunately, bicycle theft cannot be completely prevented. If someone is really seriously interested in stealing YOUR bike, then they will definitely find a way. Professional thieves have enough time, tools and criminal energy to crack even the most secure lock. And yes, children's bikes are now often stolen, even right in front of the daycare center.
But: There are a few things you can do to at least make it as difficult and as unattractive as possible for thieves.

The choice of protection
Simple bicycle lock or digital high-security wing?
Several factors come into play when choosing protection.
Is it a new, expensive bike or an older or cheaper example? Will the bike be parked for a longer period of time or just for a very short time (but that doesn't mean it can't be taken away)? Does the area tend to be safe or does it often happen that a bike gets lost here? Some security measures have a preventative effect, preventing the theft from occurring in the first place, while others only take effect once the bike has already been stolen.

Protection against bicycle theft

1. Always connect the bike correctly
Remove the following mindsets from your everyday life: “I’ll be right back.” “Nothing’s going to happen.” “Others do it too.”
Make sure you get into the habit of ALWAYS and, above all, securing your bike properly, even if you're just in the supermarket for a short time.
It is best to attach the bike to a solid object such as a bike stand so that the bike cannot simply be carried away. Multiple bikes can also be locked together with different locks.

2. “Park” correctly
The storage location can also have an impact on whether your bike is “easy to get” or not. Make sure to park your bike in a bright, busy place. Lonely places that are difficult to see could appear inviting to potential bicycle thieves.
Ideally, the bike should not always be parked in the same place, but the parking location should be changed regularly.

3. Castle to the power of two
At least one good bike lock is mandatory - if you want to increase security even further, use a second one.
Since most bicycle thieves specialize in a specific type of lock, it is advisable to use two different types of locks and locks.

4. Lock with alarm
Similar to cars, alarm locks trigger a loud alarm to scare thieves away. Also available on the market are locks without a locking cylinder, which can be unlocked and locked using an app.

5.GPS tracker
GPS trackers integrated into the bike transmit the position of the bike if it is stolen and can help to find the thief or at least the location of the bike. There are different providers here, most of which are almost invisible after installation.

6.Register and insure your bike

You can register your bike using a bike pass – classic or digital. The model, frame number and holder data as well as specific features such as the color, stickers or similar are entered.
Depending on the value of the bike, bike insurance may also make sense.

The bike was stolen – and then what?
You secured your bike as best as possible and now something has happened anyway: the bike was stolen. In such a case, it is important that you report the theft to the police as quickly as possible and file a report. If you have insurance, the next step should be to inform your insurance company about the incident.
Now you should get active yourself and start looking for your bike. Do you have a GPS tracker installed? Try to locate your bike.
It is not uncommon for stolen bicycles to be parked near the crime scene. Use all the channels you have: wanted ads on streetlights, Facebook groups, local media, Instagram. Regular inquiries at the lost and found office where you live can also lead to success.

Our conclusion
To protect your bike from theft, you should try to make it as difficult and unattractive as possible for potential thieves.
Park your bike in a bright, busy place and always lock it, if necessary with a second lock, even if you are back immediately. Avoid routines and keep changing your parking spot. Register your bike and install a GPS tracker if necessary.