How to lock you bike and what to do if your bike is stolen

How to lock your bike....  

After a long ride it is tempting to get home, chuck the bike by the front door and run in for a wee!! Don't. Take that extra 60 seconds to take your bike inside or put it in the garage. Out of sight!

Don't wash your bike outside of the house in full view of the street. Don't advertise your bike to thieves!

Get a decent bike storage unit and use it!!

Even if you keep your bike in a garage and live in a lovely neighbourhood, you should still lock the bike to an immovable object. Try using a ground anchor.

If the unthinkable happens then

You must report the theft to the police. Even if you don't think you are likely to get your cycle back it is worth reporting the theft. Give them as much information as you can this means frame numbers, a photograph, serial numbers,,,,, where it was stolen etc

To report your bike stolen 1st contact your local police station. Then you can also report the bike details onto some bike forums. If it is a distinctive bike you may get lucky, often these die hard cyclists will keep an eye on suspicious looking bikes for sale on ebay etc.

http://www.cyclechat.net/forum/32-stolen-bikes/ a list of current suspect bikes

Also try http://itsbeennicked.co.uk/ another useful resource for tracking down stolen property.