Surprise: security chains sometimes work
A reminder that despite thieves’ persistence it’s still a good idea to lock up your bike.
Sometimes doing all the stuff suggested by experts actually works. That’s the lesson learned from an unsuccessful motorbike theft in Edinburgh this weekend.
CCTV footage provided by the Stolen Motorbikes Edinburgh Facebook group shows a quartet of hooded individuals trying and failing to steal a motorbike in broad daylight - thanks in no small part to the fact the owner had followed expert advice on how to protect your motorbike.
The incident took place in the Fernieside neighbourhood of Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon. Arriving on e-scooters, the four hooded and balaclava-wearing individuals were seen peeking under a motorbike cover, only to discover that the bike was secured by a heavy chain.
Ross Munro, a member of the Facebook group, told Edinburgh Live that this activity drew the attention of neighbours, who raised the alarm and sent the would-be thieves scurrying away.
The incident serves as a valuable reminder to motorbikers across the UK (and beyond) that the safety techniques suggested by police and seasoned riders can actually work.
Visordown has a number of articles on how to keep your bike safe from thieves, but the general advice is this: park somewhere conspicuous, use the strongest chain you can afford, secure your bike to something that doesn’t move (eg, a lamppost, a ground anchor, an NHS waiting list), and keep it under cover.
As demonstrated here, the cover forced thieves to draw extra attention to themselves as they attempted to assess the theft opportunity. The chain made them realise that stealing the bike was far more effort than it was worth. Especially once neighbours had drawn attention to their activity.
Remember: the vast majority of thefts are crimes of opportunity. The harder you make things for them, the less likely they are to target you.
Check out Visordown.com’s extensive list of motorcycle safety gear reviews, as well as our advice on what you need to know about motorcycle covers.
Meanwhile, a number of groups like the Stolen Motorbikes Edinburgh Facebook group have popped up in recent years. The Edinburgh group was created last year. Its members not only report any sightings of illegal bikes, they regularly patrol hot spots and try to help police to identify stolen vehicles.
For more motorcycle news, stick with Visordown.com
Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
