Do you know the serial number of your bicycle?

Jotting it down could help Gardaí to reunite you with your bike if it’s taken by thieves, but of the 6,845 bicycles reported stolen since January 2020, only one in every five bike owners were able to provide their serial number when reporting the theft.

Now Gardaí are appealing to cyclists to take some extra precautions to beat thieves after 256 bikes were taken in Cork City alone. Just 109 were recovered.

“Schemes like cycle to work offer great opportunities to those taking up cycling but it does mean people are investing in more expensive bikes,” said Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Michael Walsh.

“Therefore, it makes sense to invest in quality locks to prevent bike theft. A good quality lock would involve spending 10% to 20% of the value of the bike on two locks. On average this would amount to €140/€150. When locking your bike ensure you secure it tightly to an immovable object and keep the lock off of the ground.”

Lock it up and snap a photo

This advice also extends to securing your bike at your home. If your bike is stored in a shed or garage ensure it is locked to either an immovable object or another heavy item, such as a lawnmower.

Sgt Walsh added, “Take a photo of your bike. Note the serial number, which is located on the underside of your bike close to the pedals. Email the photo and serial number to yourself or store it on the cloud, so you will always have a record of it.

“If your bike is stolen, report the theft to Gardaí as soon as you can, and ensure you have your serial number to hand if you have it. If you have had your bicycle stolen, you can now go onto the Garda website garda.ie or our Garda divisional Facebook pages to view bicycles that are currently in our property stores”.