Do you think that if your motorcycle is in a garage or closed area, it is safe? Most motorcycles around the world are stolen from these places. Our tips on how to protect yourself from thieves.
Although motorcycle thefts are less common than car thefts worldwide, they are certainly just as painful a loss. It is even more painful because if you become a victim of theft, the chances of your motorcycle being returned to you are very low.
Most likely, he will become a donor of spare parts after it is disassembled in some “hole”. Or he will go abroad, and his trace will disappear. It is unknown whether the reason for the low detection rate of stolen motorcycles is because the police have other, more important things to do, or because stolen motorcycles cease to exist, becoming an integral part of other cars.
The price of security
When choosing a security guard, you must answer one very important question: how important is your motorcycle? And based on this, decide how much you will invest in its security. If you feel like it's not worth the investment at all, you can rely on a steering lock. This is basic protection that is found on almost every modern motorcycle (excluding crossovers and high enduro).
Unfortunately, this only gives the appearance of security and provides much less peace of mind than real protection against thieves. Yes, the blockade will prevent amateur thieves from stealing your pet, preventing the thieves from starting a motorcycle, but if you come across a thief who has even a slight understanding of “what they eat with,” then you are doomed.
The same applies to the cheapest brake disc protection using bicycle cables. Although trying to move the bike away from the area will be difficult, a simple blow with a hammer or wire cutters and you can say goodbye to the bike.
There are many such methods of theft, but we do not intend to tell other vehicle owners how to do it. There is only one rule - the less security, the greater the likelihood that the motorcycle will change its owner. And don’t let yourself think that if the motorcycle is under the house or in the garage, then it is safe. More than 50% of stolen motorcycles disappear from private properties and garages.
Brake disc locking is only a good guarantee if you leave the motorcycle in the city center for a short time
Luckily, there are ways to immobilize a moto so that the thief is discouraged or simply fails. A good idea is to install what is called an anchor in the garage or on the wall and secure the motorcycle using a motorcycle chain and padlock (such as the ABUS Granit Extreme Plus 59, Oxford Hardcore XL or Luma Escudo).
The cost of this is not the lowest (the cost of anchors is from 5,000 rubles, the cost of a chain is from 3 to 17 thousand rubles for most armored chains), but it provides a fairly high level of security, because bypassing such protection usually requires considerable time and effort.
In combination with motopes.ru alarms (for example, an alarm in the lock when a hammer hits), such protection gives a chance that someone will react and notify the police. Before taking any action against a thief, keep in mind that he has nothing to lose and in an extreme situation he may turn out to be completely unpredictable. Therefore, leave this matter to professionals - security guards or police officers.
Is the theft of a moped and motorcycle a criminal offence?
According to Part 1 of Art. 1079 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, a vehicle is considered a source of increased danger. Therefore, legal entities and citizens may be held liable for damages. But if it is proven that the cause of the incident was force majeure or the intent of the victim, a sanction cannot be imposed. For causing grievous bodily harm through negligence, in accordance with Part 1 of Art. 118 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the following types of punishment can be applied:
- fine up to 80 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person’s salary for a period of no more than 6 months;
- compulsory work up to 480 hours or correctional labor up to 2 years;
- restriction of freedom up to 3 years;
- arrest up to 6 months.
Alarm, monitoring...
When a thief sees an anchor and chain, there is a good chance that after assessing the situation and calculating his chances of breaking the defense, he will give up and go looking for easier prey.
The Car Protection Center offers you all services related to anti-theft protection. Our Car Alarms are reliable and have a high level of protection.
Another option is an alarm. Typically, a subscription fee is charged for such a system (alarm, switch and motion sensors). If the alarm goes off during the night, within minutes cool-headed gentlemen with long sticks will arrive on site to deal with any trespassers attempting to gain access to your property. However, you will have to pay a small fine for making a false call.
If you find this protection insufficient, you can rely on monitoring. Here prices also start at 17,000, but can be ten times higher, plus about 10 thousand rubles per month if you want a security company to monitor your garage. In the end, monitoring is also a solution if there is no one to monitor.
Anti-theft protection for motorcycle - alarm
GPS beacon for motorcycle
As you can see, both experts and ordinary motorcyclists come to the same conclusion - installing a GPS beacon in a motorcycle is necessary. But how to choose the right model? What to look for when buying a GPS beacon?
- Dimensions of the lighthouse
. To reliably hide a beacon in a motorcycle, its dimensions should be as small as possible. Therefore, the dimensions of the lighthouse are a key factor when choosing. The dimensions of the FindMe F3 GPS beacon are only 55x44x29 mm. This is the most compact device in its class at the moment. And the sealed housing further expands installation possibilities. - Autonomy
. Obviously, a GPS beacon must be completely autonomous, and battery life is an important factor when choosing a device. If you have hidden the beacon well, placed it in an inconspicuous and inaccessible place, then removing it every 2-3 months to replace the batteries will be problematic. The battery capacity of the FindMe F3 GPS beacon is 3100 mAh, which is enough for 2 years of battery life. - No subscription fees or additional payments
. If the beacon has a fee for sending SMS messages, then the owner has to monitor the balance of the SIM card, and there is always a risk of being in the red at the most inopportune moment. In addition, over the years of owning the beacon, the fee for sent SMS will significantly increase its cost. FindMe GPS beacons are equipped with SIM cards of MTS PJSC, which do not need to be refilled. There are no charges for SMS and GPRS traffic, no subscription fees, or any hidden fees.
FindMe GPS beacons are also easy to activate and configure. No need to spend hours reading instructions and draining battery power during setup. Activation is completed in just a couple of minutes, and the optimal settings are already set by default. You can change them using SMS commands or in a convenient personal account on the website.
Detailed characteristics of the FindMe F3 GPS beacon can be found on the device page.
Information about points of sale is on the Where to buy page.
Terrible streets
If you are parked outside overnight and therefore cannot secure an anchor, use landscaping features and attach the anchor to one of them. Don't be afraid to duplicate security elements (for example, a chain with a lock and just a lock). The longer a thief fiddles with the lock, the more likely he is to give up or be punished/caught.
Unfortunately, sometimes you have to leave your motorcycle on the street in the city center. Yes, it's sad, but about 1/3 of stolen motorcycles disappear from streets and parking lots. A well-groomed and beautiful motorcycle riding around the city or standing in front of a restaurant attracts the attention of not only spectators. It is usually easier for thieves to steal because the car is most often not secured in any way.
It is advisable to take a chain with you. It’s just hard to believe that you will constantly carry a 5 kg chain with a lock with you. Neither convenient, nor safe, nor aesthetically pleasing. Then you should rely on decent brake disc locking. An alarm with a shock or motion sensor is also welcome, which simply makes a terrible noise and scares away the thief.
A hardened chain and an armored lock are a solution that can resist a thief for a long time and prevent theft
A cable or armored cable, which is a metal hose that you can use to attach your motorcycle to a pole, is also a good idea. This system can be used interchangeably with U-locks, but cheaper models are more commonly used to secure bicycles. The best U-locks for motorcycles can cost between 10-15 thousand rubles. They have a limited length and may cause problems during transportation. Regardless of your choice, you can easily attach your motorcycle to a pole or railing and not have to worry about a group of kids messing with your motorcycle
If your moped is stolen
If a moped is stolen, you must:
- contact the police immediately. Before the squad arrives, it is worth finding witnesses who were close to the scene of the theft and could see what was happening. If there are eyewitnesses, you need to talk to them and get their contact numbers. Even if passers-by did not see the moment of the theft, they could see the thief passing by and remember his signs. A broken cable can also serve as material evidence, so it should not be thrown away;
- try to determine the hijacker's route. To do this, you should walk along every possible path of movement and look around. Perhaps the thief was recorded by a video recorder. Video recordings from external surveillance cameras, which could be located not only near the place where the moped was stolen, but also near the road along which the thief drove, can also help. There may be cameras on many buildings, but poor quality footage can make it difficult to make out details.
Police officers carry out the following activities:
- the time and place of the theft is recorded;
- a conversation is held with the security service;
- video from external surveillance cameras is requested (if available). The owner should also make a copy of the video from these cameras.
Note!
You should not rely on the efficiency of police officers, since they, as a rule, fulfill the minimum requirements prescribed in the instructions. Therefore, to return your property, it is better to consult with a lawyer who will tell you what actions should be taken in this case.
Which lock to choose?
First of all, determine the degree of risk. Some motorcycles are more likely to be stolen for parts. If you have a popular bike, such as a Yamaha FZ6 or Honda CBR, then you are taking a big risk. If your motorcycle is often left outdoors unattended, the risk of theft is also high, so you should invest in security.
The basis is a powerful shield lock, which does not give up at the first blow with a hammer. Pictured: mirrored Oxford Monster
Removing parts
If you are technically savvy and your motorcycle allows you to perform minor manipulations, then why not?
Someone unscrews the spark plugs, someone takes out the battery. One of my electrician friends managed to open the electrical circuit from the generator; he simply made additional terminals, which he disconnected when he left. And then he came up with a secret by analogy.
This will not help when they decide to steal your motorcycle by simply throwing it into the back of a van, but it will prevent self-made craftsmen who want to ride off on your iron friend on their own.
What should a good lock have?
Design – the strength of the blocking depends on it, for example, protection from impacts with a hammer or crowbar. Good locks are made of specially hardened steel. The lock should be secured to the disc with clearance, making it difficult for a thief to stabilize the lock.
The lock body must protect the lock mechanism. The lock must have a reliable locking system that can withstand strong impacts. A good solution is a lock blocked with balls similar to bearings.
The cylinder and the key must have two important features: resistance to manipulation with master keys and high-quality manufacturing so that they last a long time.
The alarm system is high-quality and has a motion recognition function in 3D mode. Another option is a shock alarm, which is activated at the moment of impact.
“Reminder” and handle – the lock should be equipped with a colored spiral hanging on the steering wheel and a handle or cover for easy transportation.
Tuning
The more bells and whistles your equipment has, the more difficult it is to sell it entirely. Technical tuning, of course, will be more likely to benefit thieves, because by selling the motorcycle for parts, they will be able to get more money for your newfangled gadgets.
But as for external tuning... Good old airbrushing makes the motorcycle unique. The drawing is often an acquired taste and this appearance is etched into the memory, just like unusual headlights or lighting. Any cosmetic tuning makes the motorcycle one of a kind, which means it will be difficult to sell it entirely quickly, but to find it at first, to recognize it among the masses of stolen ones, is easier.
I had a friend who dreamed with all his heart about a Yamaha supersport, like a brand new, fresh motorcycle. He saved for a very long time. And by great luck, a successful motorcycle turned up for good money; the first thing he spent on was tuning. Externally, the motorcycle became just a piece of candy.
And then, in the second season, the motorcycle was stolen. They took it to a neighboring region, but the locals had never seen such motorcycles there. They didn’t have the kind of roads for city dwellers to cross on sportbikes, so yes, enduro. Rumors spread across the region among motorcyclists, saying that suddenly such a motorcycle appeared there... like that... where did SUCH a motorcycle come from?
- WHICH?! — we immediately asked and recognized our dear Erochka in the description.
And so it turned out that simple word of mouth helped to find the unit, based on the increased attention of passers-by and a simple description.
How to recognize a good blocking?
The packaging of a good lock usually indicates its level of protection. This will help make choosing a lock for your motorcycle easier. The warranty provided by the manufacturer is very important. Before buying protection, check whether it fits the brake disc. If you decide to buy a lock with an alarm, check how the alarm works. Before paying, remove the lock from the package and open and close it several times. Check if everything is working fine.
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How are motorcycles stolen?
Motorcycles are at risk for thefts. The simplest and most effective method of theft is to load a parked motorcycle into a suitable vehicle and take it to a safe place.
More often than not, the motorcycle leaves under its own power. It only takes a couple of minutes for a criminal to start a two-wheeler without a key and steal it.
In 2021, for the first time, motorcycles entered the top 10 stolen equipment!
A motorcycle is easier to steal than a car, since its control mechanisms are less protected from third-party interference, which is what thieves take advantage of.
There have been rare cases where a driver was simply thrown off a running motorcycle standing at a traffic light and drove off on it.
What you need to know about theft guarantee
When you sign up for a theft guarantee, you must comply with certain provisions. Indeed, they will determine whether you can claim compensation in case of theft or not. As for the theft guarantee, we can mention the presence of standard anti-theft devices, for example, in case of vandalism. Of course, the information provided to the insurer must also be completely accurate.
What to declare when subscribing
When signing the contract, be sure to write down:
- Technical characteristics of your motorcycle.
- The place where it is parked.
- It already has theft protection, such as a certified anti-theft system.
