Are electric bikes more likely to get stolen?
If you're the owner of an electric bike, then you'll know how great they are. They're fun to ride and can help you get around more easily. However, one drawback of owning an e-bike is that they are more likely to be stolen than regular bikes. If this happens, it can be devastating for the rider who owns it as well as the community at large—there's nothing worse than seeing someone's pride and joy being carted away by some unscrupulous lowlife on a stolen bicycle! So what's the deal with these e-bikes? Are they really more likely to get pinched by thieves? And if so, what can we do about it? Well, read on to find out...
What do we mean by electric bike?
When we talk about electric bikes, we are talking about bikes that have some sort of motor. The most common type of e-bike is what's known as a 'pedelec,' which is a bicycle that has an electric motor built into it, but can only be used when you're pedaling.
A more expensive option is the e-mountain bike, where the motor runs on its own battery and can be switched on or off by pressing a button—you don't need to pedal in order for it to move forward. You may be able to switch between different levels of power depending on how steep the hills are and how much assistance you want from your bike.
How serious is the problem of e-bike theft?
According to the FBI, e-bikes are 2.8 times more likely to be stolen than regular bikes. Thieves can make up to $1,200 a day selling stolen e-bikes on Craigslist or at pawn shops.
E-bikes are also more valuable than regular bikes, which makes them an attractive target for thieves looking for quick cash. You can buy a new e-bike for between $1,000 and $3,000 depending on the model and features you want. A thief could resell your bike within hours of stealing it if they know what they're doing—and there's a good chance they do since so many people are buying these high-end vehicles now!
Are electric bikes more likely to get stolen?
The short answer is: yes, electric bikes are more likely to be stolen than regular bikes.
Electric bikes are more expensive than non-electric bikes and therefore have a higher resale value. They’re also easier to ride, which means they can be taken on multiple trips without getting tired or sweaty. The combination of these two factors makes them a prime target for thieves who want something that’s easy to sell and can fetch a high price in the right market.
The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to help protect your investment in an electric bike (and prevent having to buy another one).
How can you prevent your e-bike being stolen?
To prevent your e-bike from being stolen, you should use a good quality lock, chain and alarm. You should also consider putting a tracking device on it.
If you have an expensive bike and you don't ride it for a long time, then it would be best to hide your bike in a safe place so that thieves cannot see it.
It is important to make sure that the battery of your electric bike is not easily accessible by thieves.
Is it worth investing in improved security for your e-bike?
If you hope to see your electric bike again, investing in some form of security is likely to be worth it. The cost of adding a good quality lock ranges from around $50–$200, depending on the quality and size of your lockset (i.e., how many locks are on it and how secure they are).
The cost of a good quality alarm will range from $100–$300 depending on the model and features that come with it.
If you want to track down your stolen e-bike using GPS technology, expect to pay anywhere from $100-$200 for one that comes with lifetime tracking service included. Or if you order one without tracking service but still want to track down the location at any time after installation by yourself or another person who has purchased their own tracker device separately from yours then expect this option's price tag range between $100-$300 according to which type/brand product you end up buying off Amazon or Ebay after searching through multiple options available thereon including ones made by companies like Garmin (best known for its GPS devices used by hikers) whose products tend toward being more expensive than others because they offer high quality features such as accuracy within plus minus five feet accuracy (which means your device could tell where something was located within an area measuring five feet around where its actual location was supposed be).
Your e-bike is less likely to get stolen if you make it more difficult to steal.
As with any bike, you should use a good quality lock to secure your e-bike. If you don't want to carry a big heavy chain with you, consider getting an U-shaped lock that will secure both the back wheel and frame.
When you're not riding your e-bike, it's best to keep it in an area where there's plenty of light and other people around. For example, if possible leave your bike at home rather than on the street outside—this way you can make sure it never goes unmonitored for too long.
If possible, remove the battery pack from your e-bike when storing or parking it; this will prevent thieves from being able to steal the expensive battery pack without also having access to the whole bike (which is much less desirable).
Finally: register your bike with law enforcement agencies in case its stolen!
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the risks of e-bike theft and how to prevent it. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at enquiries@bicycling.com