How to protect your bike from theft?

Precautions to be taken

• Opt for a solid U-shaped lock because thin cables can easily be cut off;
• always attach your bike, even for the time to do a short race;
• attach the frame and front wheel to a fixed point;
• mark your bicycle.

Why and how to mark your bike?

The identification of the bicycle:

• makes it easier to find it using the database of the single national register of identified cycles (UNCIF). The police have secure access to this database with all the contact details of the owners, and will be able to contact you;
• avoids traffic and hijacking of bicycles, as buyers can check beforehand that the bicycle has not been stolen;
• deters thieves who will prefer to steal an unmarked bicycle.

To mark your bike, just:

• bring the invoice and an identity document;
• visit an authorized operator who affixes an identification number to the bicycle, registers it in the UNCIF and provides you with proof of identification;
• connect to their personal space linked to the operator to confirm your personal data.
• The marking by etching costs on average, depending on the operator, between 10 € and 30 € depending on the chosen process (etching, industrial bonding, resin, etc.). All the devices offered by the authorized operators have been tested and validated.

What about in case of theft?

If your bike is marked:

• immediately report the theft to your personal area linked to your marking® operator;
• file a complaint with the nearest police station or gendarmerie brigade. You can pre-declare online;
• the police or gendarmerie will be able to contact you if your bike is found;
• contact your insurer who will probably ask for your identification certificate;
• once your bike has been recovered, do not forget to notify it in the online register.

If your bicycle is not marked:

• file a complaint with the nearest police station or gendarmerie brigade. You can pre-declare online.