It may not be a serious problem in Houston and area but bicycle owners are being advised to keep their two-wheel modes of transportation safely locked up to avoid losing them to thieves.
A first step is to ensure you have a proper bike lock, says Sgt. Ryan Fillmore, the officer in charge of the Houston RCMP detachment.
“Always lock your bike and don’t cheap out on a $5 lock. Cheap locks are easily defeated and offer little to no protection. Do some research or better yet, seek out advice on what you need and what you can afford,” he said.
“And never lock only the wheel. The frame is the most important part of the bike and should always be secured to an immovable object.”
He also recommends placing a bicycle inside at night.
“You may think because it’s locked it’s ok. Well, it’s not. This will give thieves all night to figure out how to steal it,” Fillmore added.
When not in use during the day, the sergeant also advises looking for a place to lock up your bike in a visible area where there is foot traffic to deter would-be thieves.
“Even if you have purchased a decent lock and are using it, if thieves have the time, they will eventually defeat any lock,” said Fillmore.
Cyclists should also remove accessories such as lights, bicycle odometers as these are also tempting targets.
Electric bicycle owners should remove their batteries as these are the most important part of their bicycle.