Video: How to stop your bike getting stolen - London police guide

The City of London police reports that bike thefts increased 25 percent year on year for the period April 1 to June 30.

To help combat the tide of light-fingered scumbags swiping bikes, the police have produced two videos and a comprehensive web page showing you how easy it is for some locks to be cut and detailing the best way to stop it from happening to you.

As you can see in this video, an inexpensive cable lock can be cut in seconds.

The City of London police’s cycling expert, PCSO Scott Green, talks about some of the security options here:

The most useful part of the campaign is a comprehensive guide to choosing and using a lock. Key points from the guide include:

• Get your bike on the Bike Register so that it is more likely to be recovered if it is stolen.

• Store your bike inside overnight if possible.

• On the street, lock your bike to a proper bike stand, and in a place where it can be seen.

• Lock your frame and both wheels to an immovable object.

• Use a good quality lock. Spend 20 percent of the value of your bike on a lock and use two different locks when leaving the bike for any length of time.

• If using a chain lock, make sure it’s not resting on the ground where it can be more easily smashed open.

• Fill a D lock with frame and wheels and use one that’s as small as practicable to stop thieves using bars or jacks to lever it open.

• Point your D-locks lock mechanism down so thieves can’t pour things into it such as glue which forces you to leave the bike for them to attack the lock later.

• Don’t use a thin cable lock as your only security.

• Look for Sold Secure ratings.

• Keep your spare key safe and make a note of your key number.

• Get insurance.