E-BIKE BATTERY THEFT – WHAT DO TO DO IF YOUR BATTERY IS STOLEN?


Thefts of e-bike batteries have increased significantly in recent years. This is no coincidence; especially in big cities, e-bikes are a popular target for thieves. The battery is easy to remove yet valuable, and is attractive to thieves even if a bicycle is locked. But what can you do if your e-bike battery is stolen? In this article we want to offer your some helpful advice.

E-BIKE BATTERY THEFTS ON THE RISE

Imagine riding your electric bicycle to the nearest café, but when you return, the battery is gone. It’s an extremely frustrating experience for any e-biker and it's now happening more and more frequently. And this is why: a bicycle lock secures your e-bike in place, but not its components. So it’s often easy for light fingers to steal a saddle, a set of wheels, or other parts without having to crack the lock at all. The latest object of desire, however, is something else: the e-bike’s battery. Frame-mounted batteries in particular, but also those mounted underneath the rack, are often easy to steal.

Although no specific studies on e-bike battery theft have yet been carried out, there are indications that the number of offenses involving e-bike batteries has recently increased significantly. As early as 2019, the German Insurance Association (GDV) reported in a press release that there had been a rise in the number of cases of insurance fraud due to the high price of e-bike batteries. German police are also reporting a significant increase in e-bike battery theft in major cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR E-BIKE BATTERY FROM BEING STOLEN

E-bike battery thefts are increasing – but before we talk about what you can do if your e-bike battery is stolen, we would like to explain how you can protect your e-bike battery against theft. First and foremost, it depends on the design of the e-bike in question: depending on the model, the battery may be either installed in the bicycle, or removable. On some models, the battery has to be removable so that you can charge it at home, for example.

Removing the e-bike battery is therefore also the best option to prevent it from being stolen. But there are some other options, too – for example, some e-bike batteries come equipped with a lock that allows you to securely lock the battery to the frame. It’s also helpful to secure your e-bike yourself. A solid bicycle lock that includes both the frame and the e-bike battery makes it extremely difficult for thieves to access the valuable e-bike battery. You should also choose carefully where to park your e-bike – a well-lit area is often a much better option than a dark corner where the bike or battery can be stolen unnoticed.

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E-BIKE INSURANCE AS ADDITIONAL PROTECTION

Another form of protection is to take out an e-bike insurance policy. There are now many bicycle insurance policies with which you can financially insure your e-bike – for example, in the event of damage or theft. It’s important that bicycle insurance should not only cover traditional bicycles without a drive, but also e-bikes and the corresponding e-bike components. You should also be aware that anti-theft protection for bicycles is often part of many household contents insurance policies. However, this is only valid if the e-bike has been stolen from your own home or from a locked bicycle storage room. We therefore recommend that you also take out bicycle insurance for public areas.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOUR E-BIKE BATTERY IS STOLEN

But what do you do if the e-bike battery falls victim to light fingers despite all security precautions? Whether it’s a frame-mounted battery or a removable replaceable model, if your e-bike battery is stolen, it’s no trivial matter. After all, in addition to the financial cost of replacing your battery, it is also annoying and disappointing when someone steals your e-bike battery. In this section, we would like to explain what you can do if your e-bike battery is stolen.

1. INFORM THE POLICY AND FILE A REPORT
The first step is to go to the police. If your e-bike battery is stolen, it is important that you inform the authorities as soon as possible. The sooner you file a report, the greater the chance that the thieves will be caught, or at least that your e-bike battery will show up again. When reporting the theft, it is important that you provide as precise information as possible. Batteries for e-bikes are expensive and therefore sought-after by thieves – so the more information the police have, the better. You will also need written notification of the theft in order to report it to your insurer.

2. INFORM YOUR E-BIKE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REPORT A LOSS
If you have taken out e-bike insurance, you should also report the e-bike battery theft to them. For most insurance companies, you will need documentation from the police. You will also need to provide precise information about where the bike was parked, the date and time of the theft, and the e-bike and the battery itself. Depending on the type of e-bike insurance you have, the stolen battery may be replaced. Even if the chances of recovering the stolen item is relatively small, a replacement is still better than nothing.

E-BIKE BATTERY THEFT – SUMMARY

Having your e-bike battery stolen is no trivial matter and can impact you both financially and emotionally. However, taking appropriate precautions when parking your e-bike, taking out e-bike insurance, and informing the police are all positive steps towards preventing e-bike battery theft and limiting the damage. We hope that this article has helped you and that you now know what to do if your e-bike battery is stolen. If you have any further questions or need help finding e-bike insurance, we recommend consulting a specialist dealer. Read the blog post to find out how to better protect both your e-bike and its battery from theft

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09.08.2022