According to current statistics, the most bicycles were stolen in the Saxon metropolis of Leipzig in 2021 – closely followed by Münster, Halle (Saale) and Osnabrück. The stolen goods included not only ordinary bikes such as racing bikes or mountain bikes, but also expensive e-bikes, which more and more thieves are targeting. Very few of them found their way back to their owners. This is particularly annoying if you have spent several thousand euros on a new Pedelec. This makes it all the more important to take appropriate protective measures to make theft more difficult. This includes having the right e-bike accessories and taking out appropriate bike insurance.
Don’t forget to lock it! A bicycle lock is by far the most important e-bike accessory, but you should choose a robust model. The harder the lock is to pick, the quicker a thief will let go. And contrary to many opinions that you have to pay a lot of money for quality, according to Stiftung Warentest, the price-performance winner from Decathlon is available for just under 30 euros. If you want to be on the safe side and make theft even more difficult, you can attach a lock to the front and rear wheels.
The parking location is crucial. Regardless of the fact that you should always and everywhere lock your e-bike, the parking location also plays a crucial role: during the day, busy places that are easily visible from all sides are the best choice. In the evening you should, if possible, park your bike in the garage or basement. If this is not possible, you should choose a storage location (even a busy one) that is illuminated at night. However, you should avoid quiet corners, small side streets or dark house entrances.
Camouflage the e-bikeUnfortunately, most e-bikes are recognizable at first glance, so it can be helpful to camouflage the bike (especially at night). All you need is a suitably large cover or an opaque rain cover for your Pedelec under which you can hide the bike. Of course, it doesn’t stop a thief from looking underneath. However, it doesn’t arouse curiosity as quickly as you would first have to make the effort to look under the cover. It’s definitely worth a try.
Take the battery with youSo that you can charge the battery of an e-bike, it is usually removable. Without the energy storage, the bike runs normally – and is therefore much less attractive to thieves, who would have to buy it for a lot of money. For this reason, you should always remove the battery when parking the bike outdoors. In addition, your bike without a battery no longer looks like an e-bike at first glance, which may dissuade some thieves from their plan.
Despite all the protective measures mentioned, it can happen that your e-bike is stolen. In this case, it makes sense to purchase a GPS tracker that you can use to locate your bike (and report its location to the police). It is attached directly to the bike – in such a way that you can’t see it, of course. This model from the Powunity brand, for example, is installed directly into the engine so that it is not visible from the outside. You should have skilled fingers for the installation; alternatively, the manufacturer offers video instructions.
If the installation is too complicated for you, you can also use a GPS tracker for e-bikes, which is just stuck on. This just needs to be mounted on the bike – although there is a drawback here too: in order to use the tracker, you have to buy a SIM card in advance, which is inserted into the housing. However, you can get cheap prepaid models for just five euros. If the e-bike is stolen, you can easily access the GPS data by calling or texting the SIM number.
E-bikes are particularly suitable for long journeys because they support the pedaling function. If you want to go on a trip, it’s worth investing extra in a cell phone holder: It’s permanently installed on the handlebars and allows you to look at the display while you’re driving – instead of fumbling your smartphone out of your pocket. For example, if you plan your route via Google Maps, your smartphone can serve as a navigation device and show you the way.
If you’re miles from home and your tire suddenly loses air and there’s no bike shop in sight, you need an air pump. It is part of the standard e-bike accessories and should be included on every tour. So that it takes up as little space as possible and the hose is filled with air again as quickly as possible, a mini pump with a CO2 cartridge is recommended. The tire should be inflated in a matter of seconds (according to the manufacturer). This model from Decathlon, for example, fits any valve.
Not every e-bike is automatically delivered with a bell – many consider them unnecessary. In fact, the little gadget is more than useful on the road. Especially if you are traveling quite quickly and someone (accidentally) blocks the bike path. In this case, it is very helpful if you can warn people from a distance with a short ring. It’s best to choose a model that is particularly loud – 90 to 100 decibels is a good guideline.
Last but not least, the bicycle helmet should not be missing from your e-bike accessories. Even though there is still no requirement for cyclists to wear a helmet in Germany, wearing one while riding – especially with a fast e-bike – is more than advisable. It protects your head from serious injuries in the event of a fall. There are different models for children, teenagers and adults, so there is something to suit every head (and every taste). Safety should always come first here.
Unfortunately, once the e-bike has been stolen, it is very unlikely that you will ever see your bike again. Even the police are powerless in most cases. However, if you have taken out insurance for your e-bike, you will at least get the money reimbursed (based on the purchase price and age of the bike) – which you can use to afford a new model. However, the insurance only applies if you took it out BEFORE the theft. According to Stiftung Warentest, you can have your bike protected for as little as 32 euros a year. It is therefore definitely worth taking out bicycle insurance. If the e-bike was stolen from your own house or apartment, it is quite possible that your household contents insurance will cover it. As long as you have completed one. However, it is also advisable to have the bike insured in advance (for an additional charge).
Important for you to know: Do not throw the receipt or invoice for your e-bike in the trash, otherwise the purchase price will have to be estimated by the insurance company. In addition, you have to provide proof that you actually bought the stolen model.
Source: Stiftung Warentest
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