Tile's New Anti-Theft Bike Tracker
Bikes are wonderful — they allow you to enjoy nature and provide both a form of transportation and an enjoyable way to exercise. Over the past decade, there has been a steady increase in the number of people actively biking. A recent study conducted by Statista found that more than 51 million Americans biked at least once in 2021.
While it's great to see more people taking an interest in biking, there is an unfortunate side to the growing popularity of bikes. As more people choose to commute to work, school, or around town with their bikes, it opens new opportunities for thieves. Sadly, the number of bikes stolen each year has also increased.
With the rise of bike theft in the United States, it's essential to take the time to familiarize yourself with anti-theft measures. Even though using a bike lock might seem like a safe way to secure a bicycle, safety professionals recommend utilizing additional anti-theft tactics such as bike trackers.
The following guide will offer a closer look at how to lower the risk of a stolen bike.
Bike Theft Statistics in the US
According to a study conducted by 529 Garage, more than 2 million bikes are stolen each year across the United States, resulting in over $1 billion in theft costs. At this rate, that means a bicycle vanishes every 30 seconds. Unfortunately, most of these bikes never make it back to their owners.
One alarming fact found during the study involved the use of cable locks. Even though many people feel that these locks provide enough protection, the truth is that over half of the bikes stolen each year utilize these locking mechanisms. It can be challenging to protect your bike from theft without additional protection.
How to Prevent Bike Theft
Even though bike theft is prevalent throughout the United States, there are steps you can take to keep your bicycle safe from thieves. These tips include:
Locking your bike in a high-traffic area
When using a cable lock, secure the bike frame to a metal object
Always lock your bike, even if you'll only be somewhere for a few minutes
Use multiple locks to secure your bike when leaving it unattended
Register your bike's serial number with local registries
Attach a Bluetooth tracker to your bike
How to Track a Bike's Location with Tile
If you use a bike tracker, there are multiple ways to track your bicycle's location. For example, cyclists who don't mind items hanging from their handlebars can utilize products like the Tile Mate for tracking purposes. The Tile Mate is also a great option for parents who want to keep an eye on their children when out playing.
For individuals looking for a stealthier option, the Tile Sticker is more discrete and can be placed in a location like under the seat or inside the frame. With the hidden location of the Tile Sticker, it's less likely that someone will notice the tracker and remove it from the bike after stealing it.
Even though both styles of trackers only work within a certain range, additional protection exists with the Tile Network. This robust network utilizes all tile devices within a given community to search for your stolen bike. If the tracker you have placed on the cycle comes within range of any device, you will receive an anonymous notification.
Tile's Anti-Theft Mode for Tracking Bike
Bluetooth trackers are wonderful devices that make it easy to find your bike if it's lost or stolen. However, in the wrong hands, they can also be used by thieves or stalkers to track the owner of the Bluetooth device. To ensure customers' safety, Tile has created Anti-Theft measures that help limit unauthorized device access.
In addition to Anti-Theft Mode, which disallows the tracker from being accessed by anyone other than the owner, Tile is also increasing security in several other areas. These security improvements include:
The requirement for multi-factor authentication
New agreement terms that allow for information sharing with law enforcement
Legal action against anyone wrongfully using Tile products to commit crimes
How to Enable Tile’s Anti-Theft Mode for Bikes
One of Tile's unique safety features is Anti-Theft Mode. This added layer of security helps protect your bike and your personal information by disabling the ability of a thief to scan and disable the tracker. To set up Anti-Theft Mode for your bicycle, follow the steps below:
After downloading the Life360 App either log in to your current account or create a new account if you don't have one
Place your dedicated Tile Tracker on your bicycle (the Tile Mate and Tile Sticker work well with bikes)
Once you've installed the tracker, connect the Tile device to the app
In the app, navigate to the Anti-Theft Mode setting and toggle it on
With the Anti-Theft Mode active, your Tile device can no longer be found via Scan & Secure, making it more challenging for thieves to disable the tracker.
Reduce your Risk of Bike Theft with Tile Trackers
Unfortunately, there will always be bike and scooter theft throughout the United States. However, taking the proper safety precautions and utilizing various safety products like bike trackers can lower the risk of losing your bicycle permanently.
With the Tile bike tracker, you can quickly locate your cycle within minutes or rely on the extensive network of Tile products to track your bike down if it has been stolen.