It's a sad fact that bike theft is so common. There are an estimated 1.5 million bikes stolen each year in the United States, which means at any given time there are almost half a million bikes on the streets without their rightful owners! If you're reading this article, chances are your bike has been stolen and you're looking for ways to get it back. The good news is that there is hope; with some effort and creativity, your bike can be found again and returned to you - but first, we need to build a proof of ownership!
1. The best way to prove ownership is with a manufacturer's serial number.
The first thing you need to do is find your bike's serial number. If you don't know where it is, take the bike to a bike shop and they'll be able to help.
2. Keep your receipt! You can also go to the bike shop and ask for a receipt of purchase.
It's not enough to find your bike's serial number; you also need to keep the receipt. If you don't have a receipt, take your bike into the store and request one.
3. Register your bike with a bike registry.
Bike registry services are important because they let you know if your bike has been stolen. For example, Project 529 and BikeIndex are services that lets users report how their bikes were lost or stolen and received notifications if matched with data from other losses in the database.
4. Take photographs of your bicycle and keep them somewhere safe.
It is important to keep photos of your bike to provide a proof of ownership because it can help you find it if it is lost or stolen. Photos are helpful in identification and will make the process easier when you're trying to get your bike back.
Bike theft is such an issue that there are even services like Project 529 and BikeIndex to help bike owners find their stolen property. If you're reading this article, chances are your bike has been stolen at some point in time so it's important for you to know how to build a proof of ownership with the manufacturer's serial number or receipt from purchase date. With these tips, we hope you'll be able to get back on two wheels again soon! In addition, make sure you register your bike with one of the many free online registries out there before it gets lost forever. Let us know if any other parts of building a proof-of-ownership were unclear; our team would love to answer those questions.