Theft of your motorcycle, scooter or moped can be devastating.

Whether you’re worried about keeping your bike safe while you’re at home or out and about, we’ve compiled a list of the top ways you can deter thieves from stealing your motorcycle, scooter or moped.

Out of sight, out of mind. If you’re concerned about bike security at home, one of the biggest deterrents to thieves is to store your bike in a garage or shed. You’ll want to ensure that you have a good lock on the garage door too. There are a few options for this, such as garage door defenders, which stop thieves from being able to open a roller garage door.

Inside your garage, you also have a few options to provide an extra layer of security. For example, you’ll want to make sure your bike is chained down, even inside your garage or shed. We recommend fitting a ground anchor to chain your bike where possible.

If you don’t have a garage at your property, you can still deter thieves by keeping your bike in your shed, outbuilding, or even your back garden, rather than on your front drive. Some companies also sell motorcycle lockers and sheds. These are easy to assemble at home, and are great for that extra layer of security.

Keep your bike safe by keeping your keys on you or in a safe place away from the bike when at home. Whether you’re stopping at the shops or keeping it in your garage overnight, the most important step in keeping your bike safe is remembering to take the keys out of the ignition. This may sound like an obvious step, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do this.

Not only do you want to make sure to remove the keys from the ignition, you’ll also want to ensure your spare key is not inside the seat, and always ensure your standard steering lock is on.

When it comes to locking up your bike, there are lots of different options for you to choose from. If you want your bike to stay safe while you’re leaving it for a long time, we’d recommend using multiple different types of lock.

Firstly, handlebar grip locks can be attached to the handlebar of your motorcycle or moped to block the throttle and brake levers. These locks are easy to put on and take off your bike, and their small size means they are easy to take with you wherever you go.

Secondly, and probably the most common type of bike lock for home use is a chain lock. These heavy duty chains cannot be broken easily with cutters and provide a strong layer of protection. Due to the size of these, however, they don’t tend to be suitable for use away from home. Another key consideration with bike chains is to ensure that they are not too long, chains resting on the ground are much easier for thieves to break. If you are using your security chain when away from home try to chain to a large piece of street furniture such as a lamp post when safe and appropriate to do so.

Another form of lock that’s used a lot is a U shackle lock. These heavy duty locks can be used to chain the bike frame to the wheel, or to connect the bike to a floor or wall anchor. They are more lightweight than a chain lock, making them great for at home or on the road.

The final lock you’ll want to consider for keeping your bike secure is a brake disc lock. These locks are fitted into the holes of motorcycle brakes discs as anchor points. They are very compact, light and therefore easy to transport. Just remember to remove this before you ride your bike!

Thieves don’t tend to steal just any bike, chances are they have a particular model in mind. Make it harder for them by covering your bike up. Hiding your motorcycle or moped from view adds an extra obstacle for prospective thieves to get through and can prevent them from making an attempt to steal it.

Your last line of defence against thieves is to fit an alarm to your bike. Fitting an alarm with anti-grab and movement sensors not only acts as a deterrent, you will also be alerted if someone makes an attempt to move your bike.

In the unfortunate event that your bike does get stolen, you can help the police to track and trace your vehicle by marking it with a unique identification number. Data tag and Alpha Dot have created dot security marking systems that can be discreetly added to the different parts of your bike. So, if your pride and joy gets put up for sale, or broken down and sold for parts, the police will be able to track and trace these back to you.

Not only are trackers great for viewing your journey and routes, these handy devices are also a great help in the event that your bike gets stolen. These discreet devices monitor the movements of your vehicle in real-time, meaning you can inform the police of where your bike has been moved to. One consideration with these trackers is to ensure they are powered separately to your bike, as the first step most thieves will take is to disconnect your battery, which can prevent some trackers from working.

The final step to keep your bike safe is to mix up your approach. Evidence has shown that bike thieves will try to predict where your bike will be at a particular time. Catch them out by storing your bike in different locations, when at home or at work, to throw them off the scent, and make it harder for them to predict where your bike is likely to be at any given time.

If you discover that your motorcycle, scooter or moped has been stolen, call 101 and report this. In the unlikely event that you witness your bike being stolen, do not confront the thieves instead call 999 immediately and inform the police. Always make sure to inform your insurance broker / company immediately.