LOCK, CHAIN & COVER is the latest anti-theft message being dished out by the Metropolitan Police. 14,000 stolen scooters, motorcycles and mopeds were used to commit almost 23,500 crimes in London last year. That’s quite a staggering statistic. Those offences included armed robberies, burglaries, mobile phone and bag snatches, as well as many cases of violent crime. They were also used to transport weapons and drugs to be used in further crimes and criminal activity. Stopping vehicles being stolen in the first place is one way to help tackle these worrying statistics.
Although the epidemic of ‘Moped enabled crime’ (which in essence is often carried out using anything but a moped, high powered scooters are the real weapon of choice) was allowed to get out of hand. The Met brought in new tactics in October 2017 to try and help redress the balance. The new measures include the use of scrambler bikes, automatic tyre deflation devices and DNA sprays. According to police statistics scooter, motorcycle and moped theft has been reduced by 52% since spring/summer 2017 and there has been a 47% reduction in crimes using these vehicles.
What can we do to help?
As the campaign suggests, LOCK, CHAIN & COVER your scooter. If you’re parking it up, either at home, at work, or on the street make sure the steering lock is on, chain it up using a good quality lock and make sure that the chain is around an immovable object. If you’re parking in a bike parking bay and there are other machines there it’s a good idea to thread your chain through the chain of the bike next to you. It’s extra security for both of you. Cover your scooter as well. Covers make your scooter less desirable because it’s hard to distinguish what model it is.
On a rally
Many SLUK readers are rally-going scooterists. At home, we’re probably very security conscious but we’ll arrive at a seaside town, park our scooters up outside a B&B (usually) on the main road, or at a campsite and just leave them there for the whole weekend. Before you head off to Whitby this weekend (or any other rally this year) think how it would feel to wake up on Sunday morning to find your scooter has vanished. Take a good chain with you, chain it up to a mates scooter, you’ll get bonus points if you cover it up as well.
If you’re at Whitby this weekend walk around and count how many scooters are just left without any security devices on them. Don’t be complacent wherever you are.
Key theft
Many vehicles are stolen using their own keys, never leave your keys in the ignition, even if it’s in your own garage. Don’t leave keys visible or in an easy to find place at home. Many break-ins are carried out specifically to steal vehicles.
Be Safe
With scooter jackings, acid attacks and many other violent crimes becoming more commonplace in London (and around the country) take heed of the Met’s previous campaign ‘Be Safe‘. Be aware if you have to ride through the dodgiest boroughs, Brent, Camden, Islington, Ealing, Haringey, Westminster, Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Fulham. Keep your eyes open, your wits about you and Be Safe.
Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, Territorial Policing, said:
Today, I’d like to ask all scooter or moped users in London to become a part of our effort to make life harder for these criminals. Lock, chain, and cover your bike when you leave it. It is simple, yet effective, and if it makes a thief think twice before stealing your bike then it’s worth it.”
“We have put a huge amount of effort into stemming the rise in moped-enabled crime, and are now seeing reductions, which is great. However, we are not complacent. All the new tactics and technology we have introduced will be backed up by really proactive policing.
“We will keep arresting offenders and running proactive intelligence-led operations to make the streets more hostile for criminals to operate. Also, through focusing our efforts on dismantling markets for stolen goods we will make these crimes less financially beneficial.
Have your say in the comments below
- Is enough being done to protect law-abiding riders?
- What would you like to see as a deterrent?
- What security do you use?
- Could you improve your own scooter security?
- Have you felt threatened or vulnerable whilst riding your scooter?
SLUK Shop armchair retail therapy for scooterists
They’d make me a lot happier if they’d stop calling anything with two wheels a bloody MOPED!