How do you lock a bike so it doesn't get stolen?

The cruel truth about bike theft is that thieves are mostly shopping for convenience. They look for the bike that is quickest to take with the least attention. You can't make a bike impossible to steal, but you can make yours slow, awkward and conspicuous to steal, which sends most thieves to the next stand. This is a summary of police, council and cycling-body advice in our own words.

Choose the right locks

• Use two locks. Cycling UK recommends double locking with the best locks you can afford, ideally ones carrying a Sold Secure Gold rating. Two different types of lock means a thief needs two different tools.
• Make one a D-lock (also called a U-lock), a solid steel shackle that is hard to cut.
• Avoid relying on a cable lock. Cycling UK advises avoiding cable locks. At most, use one as a secondary lock to hold a wheel or saddle.
• A heavy chain and padlock is a good second lock for longer stays or at home.

Lock it properly

How you lock matters as much as what you lock with. Thurrock Council's crime prevention advice includes:

• Lock every time, even for a quick stop.
• Lock the frame and both wheels to the stand, not just a wheel. A wheel on its own is easy to remove.
• Use a solid, fixed object. Proper cycle stands are best. The council warns that thieves can remove drainpipes and lift bikes off signposts.
• Keep the lock tight to the bike, leaving as little space as possible for tools or leverage.
• Keep the lock off the ground, where it can be smashed.
• Take removable items with you: lights, pump, bike computer, panniers and quick-release saddles.

Cycling UK adds a check that is easy to forget: make sure the stand itself hasn't been cut and taped back together, and that it is firmly fixed to the ground.

Choose where you park

• Busy, well-lit places, ideally covered by CCTV, or secure access-only cycle parking.
• Avoid isolated or dark spots.
• If your bike is expensive, vary where you lock it, so it doesn't become a predictable target.

At home

Thurrock Council notes that more than half of all bicycle thefts take place from the owner's property. Keep the bike indoors if you can, or in a locked garage or shed, chained to something fixed, and consider a floor or wall anchor.

Record and register

If the worst happens, you need to be able to prove the bike is yours.

• Note the frame number. Cycling UK says it is usually under the down tube, near where the pedals attach.
• Take clear colour photos and note distinctive features: make, model, colour, stickers, scratches, unusual parts.
• Register it. In the UK, Cycling UK points to BikeRegister, a free national database used by police forces to search for recovered bikes. Other countries have their own schemes, so check locally.
• Consider security marking, which gives the bike a unique ID and acts as a visible deterrent.
• Keep receipts and check your insurance; some policies require a particular kind of lock.

If it is stolen

Report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. Give them the frame number and photos, and update any register you use. Cycling UK suggests sharing photos locally and on social media too.