9 years, 2 months and 10 days… This is surprisingly how long the “Luzern bike mafia” needed to steal my bike. As upset as I was when I found out that my bike was gone, I had to remind myself that I was not an isolated case. Au contraire! Every year, in Switzerland, thousands of bikes are stolen: alone in 2015, 38’322 bikes were reported “missing” and according to the 20 minutes, an average of 7 bikes is stolen every day in Luzern! Discovering that my old friend was gone was distressing but even more so, when I realized I had no clue what to do next. So here is what to do when your beloved bike goes missing:
- Check first if your bike was impounded: if parked too long on the same spot or outside an official parking, you might want to contact the Velo Station, your bike might be “nicely” waiting for you there!
- If not, go to the police station to report the theft. They need a description, where it was last seen and its registration number. Make sure you write down this number which should be stamped on your bike
- Inform your insurance “Hausratversicherung” – if you park your bike outside, you might need the option “Einfacher Diebstahl auswärts”
There is probably nothing we can do to prevent our bikes to be stolen but did you know that you can register your bike? You receive a “vignette” which increases your chances of finding your bike. Since my own chances are close to zero to be reunited with my beloved bike, I am going to have to get a new one. Arggggh…. My silver lining? Luzern bike fair . This is the perfect place to find affordable bikes from individuals to individuals! Tip: if you are a member, you can already start looking for your dream bike 30 minutes before the official sales start!
#Youarewelcome!
