MORE AND MORE BIKES STOLEN FROM GARAGES OR GARDEN SHEDS
In the Brussels Capital Region, the number of reported bicycle thefts rose from 2,900 in 2015 to 5,001 in 2022, an increase of as much as 70%. Although garages and garden sheds are often considered safe storage places, they are not immune to theft. Thieves take advantage of poorly secured doors or windows to enter quickly and silently. Once inside, they can make their move unhindered. Therefore, it is essential to take extra security measures inside these spaces as well.
Security tips for garages and gazebos:
– Always lock: Make sure that doors and windows of your garage or garden house are always securely locked, even if you will only be away for a short time.
– Restrict view: Prevent valuables, such as bicycles, from being visible from the outside. For example, use curtains or film on windows to limit view.
– Use sturdy locks: Provide doors with cylinder locks with three-point locking to make burglary more difficult.
– Anchor your bike: Always secure your bike to a fixed object, such as a wall anchor or sturdy rack, even inside your garage or garden shed. This makes it more difficult for thieves to quickly take your bike.
– Use quality bike locks: Invest in a solid shackle, folding or chain lock. Avoid combination locks, as they are often easy to crack.
– Install lights with motion sensors: Outdoor lights that turn on when movement occurs can deter thieves and increase the chances of getting caught.
By taking these measures, you significantly reduce the chances of theft. A well-secured bike is not only less attractive to thieves, but also gives you peace of mind.
Some very useful security systems:
– ABUS WBA 60/75/100: this anchorage can be placed on a wall, as well as on the ground. Always comes with “special” plugs and are sealed afterwards by means of a metal ball that makes it impossible to remove the anchor. These anchors even have an ART approved certificate. Recommended retail prices start from €49.95
– ABUS WBA 65 B/SB + Bike Holder: wall anchor where a metal plate is included to mount your bike “on the wall”. Outside the anchorage, you have the chance to place your bike nicely without being in the way. Suggested retail price: €69.95
– ABUS WCH 90 XPLUS™ + ABUS ACH 9KS/110 (Twin Chain) or ABUS ACH 9KS/130 (OneKey): the latest anchoring system from ABUS. This involves placing a metal housing on the wall or ground. Here a chain lock is integrated with it. The advantage is that you can leave your chain lock hanging. With the Twin Chain system, there are even 2 chain locks provided. Also nice is that it comes with an XPLUS™ cylinder, so you can have it “customized”. Just one key a key that allows you to lock your bike, take out your battery and open your lock on the go. Recommended retail price is from €199.95
– ABUS Alarmbox 2.0 or RC: Alarmbox 2.0 is a metal box equipped with an alarm with 3D position detection. As soon as the lock detects a vibration it will immediately emit a short warning tone. If the manipulation lasts longer than 5 seconds, an alarm of 100dB will sound. Here you have the option of inserting a plug-in chain, which you can possibly attach to your wall and/or ground anchor. Alarm box RC, lighter version of the 2.0 that you can activate/deactivate by remote control. This allows you to place the alarm (invisibly) wherever you want. Recommended retail prices from €39.95
