Vol de vélo : que faire pour l’éviter et comment le retrouver ? - On n'est pas des Pigeons

Even one stolen bike is one too many. The figures from the Vias Institute are staggering: 24,592 bike thefts were reported to Belgian police in 2020! Police estimate that 300 bikes are stolen every day. And that's not counting all the others… How can you avoid having your bike stolen, and how can you get it back? Pigeon guides you. As soon as you buy a bike, whether new or used, you absolutely must: Keep the receipt to prove ownership. The frame number is usually also noted on it. Take a photo of the frame number and the bike itself. This will make it easier to find if it's stolen. Don't hesitate to customize your bike with accessories or stickers. It will be easier to identify. If you live in Brussels, register your bike on the mybike.brussel website. You will receive a sticker to affix to your bike frame. In case of theft, a QR code will identify your bike. When the police found dozens of bikes in a cellar, they admitted to us that this made it easier to find the owners. A word to the wise :) If you live in another region, Sophie Walschap from the Brussels Mobility Planning Department confirmed that "a federal platform will be accessible to all Belgian cyclists later this year." Just a little more patience. Cyclists who love their bikes never leave them. But if you have to leave it unattended on the street, lock it up! Thieves will be slowed down and it might even deter them. Even though they'll go to great lengths to steal them, even in broad daylight! Ideally: Opt for a sturdy U-lock worth at least €35. Use two rather than one! Also lock the wheels if you can. Store it in a secure location such as a cellar or bike storage unit. Always lock the frame to a fixed object on the ground, such as a post or railing. Avoid leaving the lock dragging on the ground or over an edge, as it will be easier to break. Remove your saddle and accessories from your bike: water bottle, helmet, lights, etc. Since January 2022, the police can issue a (small) fine of €250 to any bike thief they catch. The bike will be returned to the victim, and if the bike and/or the lock are damaged, the victim must also be reimbursed for the damage. This swift penalty aims to avoid overburdening the justice system. As for organized gangs, they are prosecuted by the Public Prosecutor's Office and appear before a judge due to the seriousness of the offenses. Today, when the police catch a bicycle thief in the act, they must first question them (with or without their lawyer present), and only then does the public prosecutor's office initiate proceedings. To enter a building, the police must request a search warrant from the prosecutor's office, which can take time. However, bicycle thieves are quick. So, if your bicycle is equipped with a tracking device that detects its location, according to lawyer Margaux Nocent, "the police can consider it a case of flagrant theft and enter the thief's home without a warrant to recover the bicycle." 0:00 Bicycle theft: what to do to prevent it and how to find it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 📌 You can also find "On n'est pas des pigeons" on: The RTBF website ► https://www.rtbf.be/emission/on-n-est... The Facebook page ►   / onnestpasdespigeons   The TV show ► https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/emissions/d... The radio show ► https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/emissions/d... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © RTBF #bicycle #bike #theft #thief #interior #police #invoice #price #savings #belgium #check #belgium #review #ONPP #WeAreNotPigeons #RTBF Bicycle theft: what to do to prevent it and how to find it? RTBF pigeons, RTBF pigeons, Fanny Jandrain, RTBF report