Weekly Edition - Published   07 Nov 2015

Local News Report - Mobile Page

£744,620k worth of bikes stolen every year in Liverpool, thanks to "social showing off"

WHILST many people are switching from driving to cycling in order to save money and get fit, there are also an increasing amount of cyclists sharing their pride and joy on social media and cycling apps, not realizing that this could make it even easier for thieves to steal their bikes.  Data from Bikmo Plus, an innovative and data focused cycle insurance brand, in the UK shows that cycle enthusiasts will buy a bike worth on average, £2,160. To secure their bikes at home, cycling enthusiasts will store their bikes in a garage worth £4,745. This represents the booming 'cycle enthusiast' market, the average bike value in the UK is £233. From 15 September to 15 August 2015, there were a reported 1,540 bike thefts reported to the Merseyside Police, showing the need for cyclists in the area to sharpen up their online profiles, to protect them and their 2 wheels.  This is something which UK Police are quickly recognizing also, as highlighted by Dorset Police who have issued a warning to cyclists using online ride sharing websites to keep their home location private, after a recent increase in the number of expensive bikes being stolen in the area. Choosing which cyclist to target is made easy for bike thieves by riders posting pictures of new high end bikes on social media, sharing their locations, home addresses and frequency of rides through social media and GPS systems.  The nation's most popular cycling apps document the route users ride, which often documents the exact start and finish point, which if not managed carefully, could have negative implications. The team at Bikmo have used their expertly insight to come up with five methods to deter bike thieves.  Commenting on the results, David George, CEO of Bikmo Plus, says:- "It's worrying to see how many expensive bikes are stolen every year thanks to social media and cycling apps. Cyclists need to be careful when it comes to sharing their location, routes or pictures of their bikes online."

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