How to Secure Your E-Bike and Protect Your Investment from Theft

“E-bikes are booming,” says Lutz Bäucker, spokesman for the German Bicycle Club (ADFC) Kempten-Oberallgäu. “And not just among older people.” More and more people are buying an e-bike – and often investing a lot of money in the process. Due to their high value, however, the bicycles have also become highly sought-after stolen goods. For the year 2022, that counts police im Allgaeu around 30 e-bike thefts. The trend this year is clearly rising. At the current time there are about as many thefts as in the whole of last year, reports spokeswoman Isabel Schreck. Just recently, the police stopped a van with stolen e-bikes and scooters worth 30,000 euros on the A7 near Dietmannsried.

How do I secure my e-bike? The ADFC gives these tips

• Have your e-bike coded: You can have your e-bike coded by the ADFC or the police. The owner gets an individual number, which is attached to the bike as a yellow mark. This allows the police or the lost property office to match the stolen bike to the owner immediately. “It has been proven that the marking deters thieves,” says Bäucker. On September 21, cyclists can next have their e-bikes coded by the ADFC. The meeting point is at the Alpinzentrum in Aybühlweg Kempten at 8 p.m. Coding costs 10 euros for non-ADFC members. It is important to bring proof of purchase and ID with you.
• Buy a quality lock: Lutz Bäucker recommends a lock from 50 euros, preferably made of steel. When locking, it is important to attach the lock as high as possible and always to a fixed object. That would make it more difficult for thieves to pick the lock or simply carry the e-bike away.
• Take out your battery: Especially during a longer stay, for example in the beer garden, this is sometimes the “best security”, says Bäucker. An e-bike without a battery loses its value and is therefore not so attractive to thieves. This is also possible with most e-bikes.
• Install a GPS tracker: Another option is to mount a GPS tracker on your e-bike so that you can always locate your bike. “You have to think about whether you want to spend the money,” says Bäucker. In general, however, every investment that could prevent the loss of a 10,000-euro bike is worth it.

Theft insurance for e-bikes: an overview

Anti-theft protection for an e-bike is not mandatory, but it may protect the owner from high costs. The sum insured results from the purchase price of the bicycle including accessories and luggage. According to a common comparison portal, the prices of a theft insurance for a newly purchased e-bike can range from 3 to 23 euros per month, depending on the purchase price. Depending on the age of the bike, a certain percentage of the purchase price will be reimbursed in the event of theft. In most cases, theft protection can be combined with roadside assistance and a repair service. E-bikes worth 200,000 euros were recently stolen in Bamberg.