by
Autonet Insurance
| Aug 26, 2010
One in three cycle owners have suffered at least one bike theft in the past five years, according to a bike insurance provider.
The survey of 2,000 cyclists showed that 8% have had as many as three bikes stolen.
More than a fifth said that their bike went missing after leaving it unlocked while they went shopping.
A total of 15% said that their cycle was stolen from outside their home and a tenth lost their bikes after parking outside a college or university building.
One in 10 found their bikes missing from outside their office and an equal number suffered a theft from a railway station.
The poll also found that 13% left bikes unlocked while running a quick errand, while 17% left them unlocked but, hopefully, hidden.
As part of an experiment, Aviva intentionally left a bike unlocked outside a shop in west London and saw the bike being stolen within 20 minutes, while one left unlocked on a west London residential street was taken in under five hours.
Last year an estimated 540,000 bikes were stolen in the UK - 22% more than in 2008.
Ian Coull, household claims manager at Aviva, said: "Traditionally during August we see a 25% increase in bike thefts as more people take to the great outdoors and make the most of good weather. The average cost of replacing a bike is around £400."
© Press Association 2010