Why e-bike theft advice differs from ordinary bike advice

Most of the advice is the same as for any bike. Lock the frame, use a fixed anchor, don't skimp on the lock. What changes with an e-bike is a handful of additions.

Police name e-bikes as targets

The University of Washington Police Department puts it bluntly: e-bikes and e-scooters are prime targets for thieves¹. Its advice list is written for owners of those machines, not just plain bikes.

Does an e-bike's weight change the advice? These sources don't say so, and this page won't claim it. What they do say is about value and extra parts.

Rating bodies treat powered cycles separately

Sold Secure also tests locks for powered cycles². BikeRadar puts its tougher criteria for them down mainly to their higher value².

That's the closest thing to a "heavier lock" rule in these sources, and it's a testing rule, not a weight rule. The detail is on the ratings page. Sold Secure is a UK scheme, so check what applies where you live.

What the police page adds

The University of Washington list includes these points for e-bike and e-scooter owners:

• Bring it indoors if you can¹.
• Use two locks, and make one of them a U lock. For a long stop, that means a U lock and a chain lock, locked to a strong anchor such as a bike rack¹.
• Take your battery with you. The page says a bike with no battery is less interesting to thieves¹.
• Think about a GPS tracker. The page says it improves the odds that law enforcement will be able to locate a stolen e-bike¹.
• Register the bike, since knowing the serial number makes it easier to return a recovered bike¹. See finding and recording your serial number.

The two-lock idea isn't new. The Winnipeg Police Service gives it as general bike advice too, suggesting a strong lock plus a second lock of a different type³.

What this means in practice

An e-bike owner follows the ordinary list, then goes further on the points above. The battery step is worth a pause. If yours comes off, your manual is the place to learn how to remove and carry it. Charging and storage advice should also come from your manual or your local fire service, not from a lock page.

For the basic list, see the page on frames, wheels and anchors. For lock builds, see types of lock.

Rules differ by country and city. Registration schemes, insurance terms and ratings are local, so use your own police or council page as the final word.