Don't
Get Taken For a Ride
Due to the rise in scooter
thefts, the Home Office has launched a campaign with the aim
of encouraging scooter owners to safeguard their bikes. More
than 50 scooters and mopeds are stolen every day in the UK,
with many of these thefts easily prevented, according to the
Home Office. Implementing some anti-theft measures can result
in insurance premiums being cut.
The most common thefts are when scooters are parked in the
owner’s front garden and according to the Home Office
simply securing your bike to a wall or a ground anchor and
keeping it covered will make it much more secure.
Of those bikes stolen, two out of every five are recovered.
The Home Office advise that you can increase the chances of
recovering your scooter by marking your bike with obvious
security marking such as the vehicle identification number
(VIN), the registration number or postcode. Insurance
companies and police actively encourage owners to follow the
same advice.
Owners of off-road bikes can ask the DVLA to register its
frame and engine numbers on their computer as well the police
computer, free of charge.
When searching for good quality security products for scooters
and motorbikes, look out for the Sold Secure Quality Mark
or ‘Thatcham Approved’ on the packaging. Both
organisations work in conjunction with insurers and the police
to ensure the quality of crime prevention products. What is
more, Thatcham is the insurance industry’s appointed
body responsible for setting motorbike security standards.
Fitting a Thatcham-approved immobiliser or alarm system,
costing up to £300, can often led to insurers cutting
their premiums. One of the most popular security systems among
bike owners is data tagging. Nearly half a million use tagging
kits to give the bike an ‘electronic fingerprint’,
making it easier to trace the machine if stolen. Expect to
pay around £25 for a basic DIY kit and up to £100
for a more sophisticated kit. An approved ground anchor will
set you back around £50 while a super-strong chain can
cost about £65.
A slightly more expensive measure for foiling the thieves
is to fit an electronic alarm and tracking device costing
around £900 that leads the police to your bike, even
if it’s stored or carried in an enclosed space. The
costs for returning the bike back to you are included.
You can check with HPI or Carwatch to find out the history
of a second-hand machine if you have doubts about it, with
prices for this service range from £25-£43.
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