There are few things in our lives that we are attached to despite their inanimate nature. Our vehicles are one of them. The good times we have and the memories they help make are priceless and the vehicle itself becomes valuable. Loss of a bike is more than a financial loss and here are a few ways to protect your beloved machine.
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Tips to protect your bike from theft
- Secure Parking -
- Don’t park it in a dark corner – If you park your bike in a dark corner, no one might notice the bad deed happening. The thieves might get away with it because that corner may not be visible on security cameras as well. This might also lead to the theft of spare parts instead of the whole bike.
- Park in a crowded place – Whenever you get out, you should search for a place that is crowded. This will automatically act as a deterrent and even if someone tries to nab your bike. There may be witnesses who can stop this from happening and save your bike!
- Ensure parking in places with efficient security - Ensure your premises have some sort of a security system. The presence of a security guard or any other such measures can make a lot of difference. This not only discourages the thieves but also ensures that in case of a dangerous situation, police are alerted immediately.
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- Buy bike insurance that provides theft coverage – Bike insurance is one of the safest ways to ensure protection for your bike. You may not be able to bring the same bike back but you will be able to buy a new one. There are 2 types of bike insurance that provide coverage for theft of a bike.
- Comprehensive bike insurance – This bike insurance provides a wide cover for your bike. This includes third-party liability, personal accident cover, loss, damages, and theft. If you purchase the return to invoice add-on cover, the cost of a new bike along with the road taxes as well as registration charges.
- Own damage two-wheeler insurance – This type of insurance provides coverage for damages to your vehicles. One of the factors covered along with fire and natural calamities is theft. IRDAI recently introduced a standalone own damage cover that helps people to get Own damage cover with an existing third-party insurance policy, if you are having a third party insurance you can go for Own damage cover for your two wheeler.
- Install security cameras – If you have security cameras in your parking lot, ensure you are choosing a spot that is not the blind spot. The presence of security cameras discourages thieves so it is better that you park as close to one as possible.
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- Safeguard your bike with Anti-theft devices – There are various anti-theft devices available in the market for the protection of your bike. An alarm is activated when there is movement detected and you can stop your bike from being stolen. Most anti-theft devices that come with stickers and using these will keep the thieves at bay! Sometimes, when the bike cannot be moved, they might target the more expensive parts of the bike and steal them.
- Reinforce the walls and gates around – Even if the bike is free and can be moved easily, add a hurdle by ensuring the walls around are high and the gates are firmly secured. If the bike can be moved, make it impossible to take it out of the premises. Even if someone tries to do so, they will be noticed immediately or the noise will attract enough attention to get them arrested.
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- Change your parking places often – Thieves observe your patterns and habits and then come back to finish the job. Change your parking spot as much as you can and keep changing your patterns. This means, changing your spot at your workplace, at markets, and even when you visit friends.
- Ask for credentials and go to a licensed service center – When you are going to a garage or dropping your bike off for repair, ensure you check the credentials of the service center and verify their documents. This applies to when you get your bike towed in case of emergencies as well. If you are opting for pick and drop service of your bike for periodic servicing, ensure you check with the service center, the details of the person sent to collect and deliver your bike.
Apart from this, there are a few things that should be done as soon as you realize the bike has been stolen. You should report the theft of your vehicle to the police and lodge a formal complaint. Ensure you have the best layer of protection with bike insurance!
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