E-bike thefts are on track to surge more than 115 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same time last year according to insurance industry data.
Almost 65,000 e-bikes were imported in the past year, worth $62 million, and by comparison 87,000 cars were sold in the same period.
Barbara Cuthbert, Bike Auckland chair, shared some advice on how to prevent e-bike theft with Afternoons.
There's been a spate of bike thefts in Wellington Photo: Wikipedia
She says the level of bike theft is ‘absolutely shocking’.
“There’s heaps [of e-bikes], we’re seeing them on the road and everywhere and e-bike theft we’re seeing as organised theft happening in Auckland.”
Cuthbert says they’ve been seeing and hearing about vans that roll up and people jumping out to grab e-bikes off the street.
“They’re high-value items, so we’re not the slightest bit surprised that’s happening.”
Her own e-bike, for instance, was $4,500 and she’s heard of people with bikes costing around $20,000.
“You know what blokes and gear are like. They like the smartest, lightest, techiest gear. With e-bikes they want the most powerful, the lightest, the sexiest, all those things.”
She says many people use e-bikes as their only form of transport and become attached to them.
“When people email me, they’re absolutely shattered. More and more families are giving up their second car and getting an e-bike so that limits the person who’s commuting to work.”
One of the ways of preventing theft is for people to be a bit more alert about their bikes.
“People are just too trusting. You’ve got to have a serious bike lock. They can be $100+, but you’ve got an expensive piece of equipment.”
Another strategy some shops are employing is to not sell e-bike chargers over the internet and asking people in-store for proof of bike ownership.
She says people also need to take a photo of the serial numbers on their bikes so that, if they’re recovered, they can prove they’re the owner of the bike.
