Vehicle Theft on Darker Nights
With the colder weather setting in and darker night’s drawing in opportunistic criminals are on the lookout for any chance to take advantage of any unsecured belongings. Motorcycles are a prime target – often left unattended or parked in low visibility areas.
Whether you’re choosing to keep riding throughout the colder months or putting your bike away until the spring, taking proactive steps is essential to prevent motorcycle theft and ensure your bike is protected throughout the shorter days of winter.
Thefts tend to rise in the winter months due to a decrease in daylight hours, giving criminals more of an opportunity to operate unseen in the darkness. With fewer people out and about, this reduces natural surveillance and opportunistic thieves are more likely to take advantage of this. There is also a noticeable shift in modes of transport when the temperatures drops, and an increased reliance on personal vehicles over walking or cycling – giving criminals even more chances to strike, especially during the early mornings and evenings when visibility is low. Whether you are commuting, running errands or storing your bike until spring it’s more important than ever for you to stay one step ahead of the criminals and prevent motorcycle theft.
We’ve got some information for you whatever you decide to do with your bike this winter…
If you are deciding to put your motorbike in storage for winter, some simple steps can be implemented:
- Install motion activated lights, don’t let thieves take advantage of the dark.
- Add a strong visible deterrent with our easy-to-use handlebar such as Croc-Lock. It’s compact and tough, sending a clear message to potential thieves it’s not worth the risk.
- More locks mean more hassle for criminals – layered security makes your bike far less appealing.
- Install a ground anchor to provide a secure point for your chain lock.
- A loud responsive alarm system such as the Datatool Evo, that will instantly sound upon detected movement, alerting anyone nearby and scaring off any potential criminals before they can act. ensuring any attempt to steal your motorcycle is heard – drawing attention to the theft taking place and increasing chances of intervention or scaring a criminal off.
- Install a Thatcham approved motorcycle tracker, with anti-theft tracking technology to help locate your bike should it be stolen, increasing the chance of a swift recovery such as our Thatcham Approved S5 Datatool Stealth. With 24/7/365, with real-time theft alerts via our Datatool App.
If you are carrying on riding throughout the cooler months, consider some of the following tips to keep your bike secure:
- Smart motorcycle tracker with safe zones to ensure you are notified of any unauthorised movements instantly. Set virtual boundaries around your home, office or storage location and get real-time theft alerts if your motorbike leaves the designated area, helping you to respond quickly – increasing chances of recovery.
- Keep any expensive or desirable items hidden to avoid unwanted attention. Whether aftermarket accessories or riding gear, these can make your bike a more tempting target. Store items in locked compartments when parking your bike in public areas.
- Park smart – ensure to park your bike in well-lit busy areas or secure garages, avoid leaving your bike in isolated and poorly lit locations to prevent motorcycle theft.
- Installing a vehicle immobiliser system to ensure the motorbike cannot be started without a key.
Statistics
Last year (1st October 2023 – 30th October 2024) there was an increase of 0.9% of Vehicle crime theft and other theft offences compared to the previous period of 1st October 2022 – 30th September 2023. Motorcycles take on average just 20 seconds to be stolen, highlighting the urgent need for security measures especially during winter.
Don’t let your bike become another statistic. Protect your motorcycle today with Datatool’s trusted security solutions and see why over 500,000 trust us to protect their vehicle no matter what time of the year. Visit our website to protect your passion today.