In the UK today thieves across the country are running off with hundreds of millions pounds worth of bikes a year, with a third of them are stolen from outside of the owners home. Most home insurance policies will cover the theft of bicycle if the consumer has personal possessions added to their insurance policy, but not all insurers include bikes within this cover.

As some personal possessions insurance policies will exclude push bikes. Cyclist then find themselves having to take out additional cover with their insurer.

A spokeswoman for Halifax General Insurance said that:

“It is important to check whether you are covered when out and about because you could end up catching the bus if your bike is stolen.”

Figures collected from the Halifax have shown that around half a million push bikes are stolen on a yearly basis in the UK. The Halifax General Insurance company said Kingston upon Thames in south west London was the top spot for bike thefts last year. Other bad areas for bike thefts included Cambridge, Bristol and Oxford. More than half (52%) of total thefts take place directly outside the home, with bikes typically being stolen from garages or garden sheds. And around 14% of the thefts are from inside homes.

Halifax General Insurance also said that:

“To stand a better chance of deterring a thief, cyclists should ensure that their bikes are post-coded, securely locked and out of view hidden inside a locked garage, shed or outhouse - or even in the house. Given the amount of warnings and the relatively low cost of purchasing a good lock it is surprising that so many people still leave their bicycle unsecured.”

So whenever possible it is highly recommended to make use of special bicycle parking racks and always lock your bike, regardless of how long you will be away from it. If possible use a rack that is in a well-lit or well-travelled area When you are not using your bike keep it locked in a outbuilding or even better inside your house. You could also consider the use of a anti-pry device, an anti-pry device cover the gap between your bike and the object it's secured to, as a result it will prevent a thief from inserting a tool in the void and prying or twisting the bike free. Also always keep the door to the building where you store your bike/s locked, even if you are just in the back garden as an opportunist thief will always take their chances. When you lock up your bike it is better to use a hardened steel U-type lock, as cable locks are easily cut. As you will find that the majority of insurance companies will only provide cover for secured bicycles.

Many insurance companies will encourage the employment of suggestions suggested above and would also encourage the use of registering your bike with a bike ownership agency and to use a ultra violent pen to make your post code on to the frame of your bike. It also helps to Write down the name, model and serial number of the bike and store it somewhere safe in case you need to pass on the details to the police Take photographs of the bike and keep a note of extras such as mudguards, high performance tyres and even water bottles, and other equipment you may have added over time Hopefully with the use of these methods could help reduce the push bike theft in the UK and create cheaper insurance premiums.