Worry-free festive cheer for you and your cargo bike
Nothing is more frustrating than coming home from a delightful day with family or friends only to find out your beloved cargo bike has disappeared. Especially during the holidays when you might be away for a longer time enjoying a delicious Christmas dinner or a well-deserved end-of-year vacation, it’s crucial to ensure that you don’t have to worry about the possible theft of your cargo bike. Unfortunately, despite the holidays being a time of joy and togetherness, we see a rise in theft cases every year.
In this blog, we share practical and effective tips that you can quickly implement to prevent your cargo bike from being stolen during the holidays. This way, you can enjoy all the festivities with peace of mind, knowing that your cargo bike is safe.
Store indoors
The safest place for your cargo bike is indoors, such as in a garage, shed, or even inside your house, especially if you’re going to be away for several days. So if you have the option, always prefer indoor storage. Not only does this make it much harder for thieves to access your beloved cargo bike, but it also protects against winter weather conditions.
Geen binnenstalling mogelijk? Zet hem altijd met een extra slot aan een vast object.
If you can’t store it indoors, always use an immovable object to lock your cargo bike. This can be a sturdy fence, anchor (which you attach to an outside wall) or lamppost. Make sure the object is firmly anchored and not easily removable (barriers, a bike rack, or traffic signs are a no-go). Securing your bike to an immovable object makes it considerably more difficult for thieves to make off with your cargo bike.
Tip: If you don’t have indoor storage, always choose a well-visible spot to park your cargo bike. Think of a busy street or near a supermarket or other shop. Thieves prefer isolated and dark locations where they can operate undisturbed. By parking your bike in a busy, well-lit area, you reduce the chance of theft.
Invest in a sturdy chain lock
As we tried to make clear above, a ring lock alone is not enough. Invest in a high-quality, sturdy, and certified chain lock, preferably ART 3 or 4, to secure your bike to an immovable object. Thread the chain through both the frame and the rear wheel. The more difficult it is to detach the bike, the less attractive it becomes for thieves.
Tip: Tex-lock textile locks
As we tried to make clear above, a ring lock alone is not enough. Invest in a high-quality, sturdy, and certified chain lock, preferably ART 3 or 4, to secure your bike to an immovable object. Thread the chain through both the frame and the rear wheel. The more difficult it is to detach the bike, the less attractive it becomes for thieves.
Always activate the motion sensor when parking your cargo bike
Whenever you park your cargo bike, always activate the motion sensor via your GPS-trackers app. This sensor detects any movement and sends an alert to your phone as soon as someone moves your bike. This way, you are immediately aware of suspicious activities and can take swift action. So, don’t forget to enable this simple but powerful security measure every time you leave your cargo bike.
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The battery and other removable parts of your bike (such as the display or accessories) are also attractive to thieves. Protect these against theft by always removing them from the bike when you park it.
Is there a reason you cannot or do not want to remove the battery from the bike? Ensure extra security by installing a battery lock, such as Lockride. Alternatively, use an additional chain lock by threading it through the hole near the battery and looping it a few times. This way, the battery cannot be removed.
Install a bike alarm
Consider equipping your cargo bike with a bike alarm system. A bike alarm works with a sensor that detects movement or tampering with the bike. When someone tries to move the bike or force the lock, the alarm triggers a loud signal. This sound deters the bike thief and alerts both the owner and people nearby. Use for example the ABUS alarmbox.
Unexpected alert notification?
Take immediate action!
If you receive an alert that your bike is moving and see on the map that your bike is no longer where you parked it, always report the theft in the app immediately and file a police report as soon as possible. The sooner you report the theft, the greater the chance of recovering the bike.