Keeping your bicycle safe

Lock your bike whenever you leave it, even if you are just going into a shop. The best kind of locks are made of a loop of solid metal. Chains deter casual thieves but can be easily cut with the right equipment. 

Always lock your bike to something solid like a lamp-post or railings. If you have quick-release wheels, take off the front wheel and lock it to the frame and back wheel. 

Mark the frame with your postcode. This will help the police get it back to you if they find it – they have thousands of unclaimed, unidentified bicycles. Find out if your local police station or cycle dealer does this free. 

Get your bike frame marked with your postcode and stick on a ‘Coded Cycle’ sticker to let thieves know. 

Get a ‘recorded cycle’ form from your local police station or bicycle dealer and take a photograph. Record all your bike’s details so that if it is stolen and then recovered, the police will be able to match it to the description. 

Fewer than eight per cent of bikes reported stolen last year were returned to their owners. Owners can improve the chances of recovery by registering with www.bikeregister.com (opens in a new window). 

They are given a "log book" as proof of ownership - and police can use the register's secure database to link lost or stolen bikes they recover with the rightful owner.