Cycling guides / Security
Bike security
Use two locks of different types. D-lock plus chain or folding lock. Both rated Sold Secure Gold. Lock through the frame and rear wheel to a fixed object, off the ground.
Most UK bike thefts are opportunist, not planned. Two good locks, the right technique and a registered frame number deter the vast majority of attempts. The guides on this page cover what to buy, how to lock up properly, and what to do if the worst happens.
All security guides
Is There a Police Stolen Bike Database in the UK?
There is no single public police website where you can search every stolen bike in the UK. Police forces and national stolen-bike registers share records, and you check a bike by running its frame number against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports. Report a theft to the police for a crime reference, then mark the bike as stolen so a future check can flag it.
7 min
How to Check a Used Bike Isn't Stolen Before You Buy
Before buying a used bike, ask the seller for the frame number and run it through a free check against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports, then confirm it matches the bike in person. Ask for proof of ownership, be wary of a price well below the market, and pay in a traceable way. On Cyclesite every listing with a frame number is checked before it goes live.
7 min
Used Bike Scams UK: How to Spot and Avoid Them
Most used-bike scams fall into three types: fake listings that take a deposit for a bike that does not exist, stolen bikes sold as genuine, and payment tricks that push you onto bank transfer or gift cards. Seeing the bike in person, checking the frame number against a stolen-bike registry and rider-filed theft reports, and knowing the market price defeat almost all of them.
7 min
AirTags, GPS Trackers and Smart Locks for Bikes
A lock prevents theft, a tracker helps you recover a stolen bike, and the sensible setup uses both. Bluetooth tags like an AirTag or Tile are cheap with no subscription and work through crowd-sourced phone networks, best in towns. A dedicated GPS tracker has its own SIM for live tracking but costs more and needs a subscription. A tracker is a backup to good locks and a registered frame, not a replacement.
7 min
Does Home Insurance Cover Bike Theft? UK Guide
Home contents insurance usually covers a bike stolen from your home up to a single-item limit, so a valuable bike may need to be specified. Theft away from home is often not covered without added personal-possessions cover. Specialist bike insurance fills those gaps but requires approved locks and often a registered frame. To claim you need a police crime reference number and proof of ownership.
7 min
Bike Stolen: What to Do in the UK Step by Step
The first hour matters most. Walk a 100m circle (many thieves abandon bikes nearby), photograph the scene, get the frame number ready, then report to police online for a Crime Reference Number within 24 hours. Mark the bike stolen on the UK stolen-bike databases and start watching marketplaces. Registered, reported bikes recover at five times the rate of unregistered ones.
14 min
The Ultimate Bike Security Guide
Use two locks of different types (D-lock plus chain or folding lock), both rated Sold Secure Gold. Lock through the frame and rear wheel to a fixed object, off the ground. A registered frame number and an Apple AirTag inside the seat tube cover the other 10 percent of cases. Most thefts are opportunist.
15 min
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