Utah is one of the best states to live in if you’re a biker. With all the bike trails through the mountains and valleys, all of which can be enjoyed throughout the whole state. With the growth of biking and bike groups, there are many people who now enjoy biking to their everyday activities. This includes going to work, shopping, and other events. With the increase in bikers and bikes being locked up around the city, there is now an increase in bike theft and vandalization.
According to an article by Fox 13, a report was released by JOIN, studying how many bike thefts and vandalism occur per every 100,000 people. Throughout the nation, 44 bikes are stolen per 100,000. In Utah, 84 bikes have been stolen per 100,000 people.
Although this is not the worst rating in the US, we are currently rated at number 8 out of the 50 states. Fox 13 states that “a total of 2, 959 bikes were stolen or vandalized,” which was a total of $4,855,548 in loss of damage. Despite the high number of thefts, Utah was not ranked high in the states most likely to experience theft.
BikeRegister.com has steps that you can take after your bike has been stolen.
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Report Your Bike As Stolen on Websites
There are several websites you can post your stolen bike on, including BikeRegister and biking groups on Facebook. When you have reported your stolen bike on these websites, then anyone else in the group can keep their eye out for your bike to be resold. Most bikes have distinct features that you or others can easily identify if a thief is trying to sell your bike.
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Report the Crime to Police
You can do an online report or call the police. The police might want to know if your bike was security marked or if you have posted about it on websites like BikeRegister. This information can help them track the bike easier.
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Report the Crime to Your Insurance
If you have insurance on your bike, you can contact your insurance within 24 hours of the crime. You must have your insurance number and proof of insurance. If you don’t have specialty insurance on your bike, then look into your own insurance too if it could be covered.
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Talk to Your Community and Local Bike Shops about the Theft
Often, if someone has stolen your bike it is because they want to sell it for profit. This means they will go to bike shops to sell it there or they will put it on reselling websites like Facebook Marketplace, KSL Classifieds in Utah, we and EBay. If you reach out to your community and let them know which bike to look out for, then if that person tries to resell the bike, someone else can contact the authorities on your behalf.
Never try to get your bike back by yourself or try to meet the person. If you have found the individual who stole your bike, just let the authorities take care of it.
To deter thieves, you should always lock your bike up. You could even have two locks to keep it more secure, as some thieves are known for unscrewing the bike from a tire, as tires can be easier to replace. You also should make sure that your bike is always left in a busy and busy area, so someone can see it.
FLICKINGER BOULTON ROBSON WEEKS
You should always try to stay safe and vigilant, especially when biking. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bike accident, you can speak with one of our attorneys about being compensated. You can contact our office at (801)-500-4000 for a free consultation.