Once you get over the initial disbelief that your bike was stolen, and the gut feeling that follows, you may feel helpless. Your favorite thing in the world has been taken by someone else. Your way of getting around is gone.
But now is not the time for panic or self-defeat. It is time to take action. Think positive and operate on the assumption that you will get that stolen bike back. There are many resources available that can help you. Take a moment to shake your fist into the sky, and then follow these nine tips to get your bike back safely.
9 tricks to find your stolen bike
Get the serial number
Did you record the serial number of your bike? This is your best chance to track it down and report the theft. If your bike hasn't been stolen yet, stop reading this article now, find your serial number and write it down or save it somewhere on your phone. It's usually found on the bottom bracket (although sometimes it's also on the head tube, rear strut, or anywhere else on the bike). Once you have the number, register your bike with Biciregistro , the world's most successful bike registry in terms of recoveries.
As you do so, take photos of your bike and any other documentation you may have, such as your receipt. This is no exaggeration: no one thinks theft will happen to them until they are looking at a broken U-lock hanging on an empty bike rack.
File a police report
Notify the local police that your bicycle has been stolen. Have an officer come and retrieve the report, if you can, or go to the police station with your information, including the bike's serial number, make, model, and photos for the report. If you have a video recording of the incident, or know of a surveillance camera in the area, specify it next to the report.
Record theft
Record that your bike was stolen from the Biciregistro, Bike Index, the National Bike Registry and any local registry that exists in your city. Bike Index is your best option: not only does it project a much wider network, but it uses an open data API that can be entered on any website and easily accessible by anyone, making more and more city records and Police departments are bundling your data there. Include as much information as you can.
Spread theft
Share news of your stolen bicycle throughout your social networks. Post a photo of your bike on Facebook and Twitter and have your friends spread it. The more eyes you have on the street looking for your bike, the more likely you are to find it.
Use Google alerts
Set up multiple Google alerts with information that matches your bike. That way, if it appears for sale online, or if a local store is raided, you will be notified.
Do some detective work
Search Craigslist for your stolen bike. Visit markets. Anywhere you've seen used bikes for sale is a potential place for yours to end up there. If you can find her, tell the police; do not carry out a covert operation yourself. If you find it on Craigslist, type in a disposable email address, become an interested buyer, and try to get the seller's contact information so you can pass it on to the police.
Check online market applications
Two popular sales apps, Wallapop and Milanuncios, have been hotbeds for stolen bikes because they don't shortlist the lists or provide any customer service for complaints. Biciregistro says that bike thieves who were previously on Craigslist have moved almost exclusively to these two apps. If you find your bike in a similar online marketplace, notify the police. Don't try to confront a seller yourself. There have been cases of people attacked or killed trying to get their things back.
Join a bike recovery group
If you live in a city with a large cycling community, chances are good that local users have created a Facebook group to retrieve stolen bikes.
Get the Right Bike Lock
Now you must focus on preventing future thefts by investing in world-class security. No, the best locks cannot give you 100 percent certainty that your bike will not be stolen; eventually, any lock can be broken, with the right tools. But what the best bicycle locks can give you is time. It presents enough challenges to a thief with a padlock cutter, and they are likely to seek easier targets, such as a mixed cable lock.
U-locks like the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini are the gold standards for easy-to-use protection, requiring power tools to open. To raise the ante, wrap a cable around your wheels and lock them to the bike frame. A chain clasp like the Hiplok Original allows you to secure the wheels and frame with a single lock, although it will be much heavier and more cumbersome to carry. Just please, avoid any cable or wire locks that basic tools can open in seconds.
