Theft Prevention

Register Your Bike (locally, nationally)

Often times you can register your bike with your local police department in case of recovery. In SLO, you can register your bike with the SLO Police Department.

You can also register your bike with Bike Index, a national bike registry for recovering bikes if stolen.

If you don’t register your bike right away, make sure to keep a record of the make, model, serial, and any identifiable features for safe keeping.

Lock Your Bike Securely

When locking your bike in public spaces, consider the following:

-Lock your bike in highly visible places with plenty of foot traffic.

-Use a lock that requires a power tool to break. Simple cable locks can be cut silently and quickly with bolt cutters from the hardware store.

-Run your lock through one or both wheels if possible.

Store Your Bike Inside

Whenever possible, store your bike indoors, out of sight. A large portion of theft is convenience and access, so make theft difficult or inconvenient by storing your bike behind a visual barrier or indoors whenever possible.

Secure Easily Removable Items

Even if your bike is properly secured in a public place, items that are easily removed from bikes often get stolen. If you have a quick release seat post or wheels, consider safety skewers for your wheels or a bolt on seat post clamp. For accessories like lights, be sure to remove them from your bike when you lock up.