4 ways to protect your bike from being stolen

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – There's an unfortunate saying if you live at the beach: "If you have a bike, it's going to get stolen at some point."

I  found out there's truth to this, even when you're bike is in a garage.

About a month ago, someone stole Nikki's bikes out of their parking garage. They cut through two, hefty cable locks that were wrapped around the bikes and a pole, and just walked them out the door. Even though there was video of this happening, police told Nikki that recovering the bikes is pretty much a lost cause. That's why, if you want to keep your bike safe, you need to take extra steps.

Channel 4 Crime and Safety Analyst Ken Jefferson said, "Well yes, any bike lock is a false sense of security. You have to get a quality bike lock. Get one that's got a rugged coil, something that's very difficult to cut."

Jefferson said that should always lock your bike but realize how you lock it and the device you use is key.

"Use one that is at least a half inch thick. It's very difficult to take it and cut it and what you want to do is you want to make sure when you lock your bike up, that you lock the wheel and the frame against something that's sturdy and permanent," he added.

To really ensure security, you want to use what's knows as a U-lock instead of a cable lock. Also, make sure the U-lock is around the tire and the frame.
Jefferson explained one more very crucial step you need to take to protect your property,

"What's important is when you buy your bike, the first thing you want to do is store the serial number somewhere simply because that's the identification of the bike," said Jefferson.

Without that serial number, police said you are going to have a really tough time getting your bike back. It's going to be tough even with that number. That's why Jefferson suggested taking a couple of more steps. If you have a garage, keep the bike locked in there.

If you live in a condo and have a parking garage, lock it up in your storage area or inside your home. It's easier than you think for crooks to get into your shared paring area. Also, if your bike is stolen, check Craigslist to see if you find your bike for sale. If you do, call the cops. Don't try to resolve it on your own.