Here at MCN Compare we’re keen to provide you with the best advice on how to keep your bike safe and secure. As part of that pledge, we’ve been talking to PC Clem Jones, of the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Venice, to get his advice on motorbike crime prevention.
First of all, can you please tell us what Lock, Chain, Cover is?
‘’Lock, Chain, Cover is the Metropolitan Police campaign encouraging riders to layer up their security to reduce the chances of having their powered two-wheeler (P2W) stolen.’’
Why those three elements of security altogether, is one not enough?
Layering up security seriously puts thieves off. They want your scooter or P2W and want to take it quickly. They don’t want to mess with multiple locks and a cover.
This is why the layering of three elements works:
Lock: a D lock on the front wheel stops it being wheeled away.
Chain: secure your bike to an immovable object such as a ground anchor or street furniture. This can help prevent thieves from cutting a lock trailing on the ground using an angle grinder. If this isn’t possible, thread the chain through your bike frame and back wheel.
Cover: thieves often ‘shop’ for particular bike models. Using a cover instantly makes it less attractive to them. A cover also provides another time consuming obstacle for the thief.
Do you have any statistics to support the likelihood of bikes being safer when these methods are used?
We believe that a scooter with little or no security can be taken away fairly swiftly, possibly in under a minute. Watch our ‘Gone in 60 seconds video’
A scooter being stolen doesn’t affect just its owner as the scooter or P2W is subsequently used to commit a variety of crimes from robberies, smash-and-grab to fuel theft and phone snatches. See our life of a stolen scooter video.
How has Covid-19 affected bike theft in London?
Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Venice, a unit set up to stop scooter crime, have been busy during lockdown tackling criminals using scooters and P2W to commit a number of offences. In some ways, lockdown has been hard for criminals; instead of them being able to mix with the crowd, officers been able to spot them more easily making their lives harder.
Do you have any other advice for new riders who’ve converted from public transport?
Ensure you check parking before you leave, especially if you are driving into central London or busy town centres. Try to look for a bay with a ground anchor, if you can. Always park in a well-lit place. Remember to layer up your security. Following our Lock, Chain, Cover advice can help to protect your scooter or P2W from thieves, making their lives harder and helping us to keep scooter theft down.
