Secure your Bicycle

Here are our top tips for keeping
your bike safely locked up:

• Invest in a good quality bike lock
  The more expensive your bike, the more you should spend. A good guide is to spend 10-20 per cent of the cost of your bike on the lock.
  

• Look for 'Sold Secure' products
  Look for products which have been tested against attack. Developed by the police with the help and backing of the Home Office, only the best products receive 'Sold Secure' quality approval. Three grades of security are available - bronze protects against attack for at least one minute, silver protects for at least a three minute attack and gold, which protects for at least five minutes' duration.
  
  
• Look for guarantees and warranties
  Choose security products with a guarantee or warranty. This is an indication of a good quality product the manufacturer has faith in. All Squire products come with a 10-year guarantee.
  
  
• Choose D-locks, locks and chains or cables
  Cycle security comes in different guises. D-locks are solid steel 'D' shaped rings with a locking mechanism at one end. They come with levels of security protection and are made of differing strengths of material. For example, Squire's 6-pin tumbler locks have the most key differs and are made of hardened steel for the hardest material. Chains and padlocks tend to be used together. For maximum security, choose a high security padlock and a hardened alloy steel chain with a thick chain link diameter and small internal link size. Similarly, security cables come in various lengths and thicknesses. Available with key or combination locks, multi-strand cables are the most secure. Generally, the thicker the diameter of cable, the stronger it is.
  
  
• Lock your bicycle inside your shed or garage
  Use a wall or ground anchors for excellent security at home. They are designed to fix permanently to the floor or walls, so you can attach your bike to them using a chain, cable or D-lock. Always keep the shed or garage door locked.
  
  
• Take out insurance on your bike
  Extend your home contents insurance or take out a separate policy.
  
  
• Security-mark your bicycle
  To be effective, marking must be clearly visible and legible, tamper-resistant and be placed in at least two separate locations, ideally on or in the frame.
  
  
• Record and register your bike
  Contact your local police station for further advice on registration. Take a good quality photograph of your bicycle and make a written record of its make, model and any unique features, so that you can report it accurately if stolen.
  
  
• ALWAYS lock your bicycle even if you are only leaving it for just a couple of minutes, as many thefts are opportunistic. Try not to lock it in the same place all the time as this could be noticed and stolen to order, and make the bicycle and its security hard to manoeuvre when parked.
  
  
• Lock your bike through the frame and secure any removable parts. Lock both the wheels and frame together. Where possible, take with you any removable parts which can't be secured to the bicycle, such as lights, pumps, and quick release saddles.
  
  
• Lock your bike to an immovable object
  At home use a wall or ground anchor, and when out and about, use a proper bike rack or robust street furniture. Beware of street furniture which is too flimsy or too short, thieves can lift a bike to free it.
  
  
• At home, lock your bicycle away where it can't be seen. But when out and about do the opposite - avoid isolated or dimly lit places, leave your bicycle where a potential thief will be clearly seen trying to steal it. Don't leave your bicycle locked in a public place overnight.
  
  
• If possible use more than one lock. If a thief thinks it will take a long time to break into both locks it will put them off trying.
  
  
• Keep the gap between the bike and the lock small so bolt croppers or other cutting devices can't easily fit around locks or chains.
  
  
• Try not to leave too much slack on cables or chains. Keep any chains and locks away from the ground to prevent thieves from trying to smash them with a hammer.
  
  
• If you are using a padlock, position it with the keyhole as inaccessible as possible. This makes it harder for the thief to access your lock and attempt to pick or drill it.
  

• 'Sold Secure' products
• Wall and ground anchors
• Cycle section