An electric scooter or e-bike is expensive, easy to sell on and often light enough to carry off. No single measure stops every thief, but the right lock, good habits and a recorded frame number make your vehicle a harder target than the one parked next to it – and easier to get back.
Protecting your electric scooter from theft: what works?
Lock the scooter through the frame to something fixed with a sturdy U-lock, chain lock or folding lock – the supplied cable lock only works as a second lock. Alarms and trackers help but don't lock anything. Park indoors at night, otherwise somewhere well lit. Write down the frame number and report any theft to the police.
Locks: the basis of theft protection
What matters most isn't how expensive the lock is, but that the vehicle is locked to something that can't be moved.
A survey by SSF, the Swedish theft prevention association, found that the risk of having a bike stolen is three times higher when it is locked only with its factory-fitted lock than when it is locked to a fixed object with an extra lock.
Different lock types do different jobs:
| Lock type | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| U-lock (D-lock) | Longer stops, at a rack or post | Pick a size that fits tightly around the frame and the anchor. |
| Chain lock | Longer stops, around posts and railings | A thick, hardened chain is hard to cut but heavier to carry. |
| Folding lock | Commuting – easy to carry | Check that it reaches around the frame and the object. |
| Cable lock | Second lock, or short stops within sight | Easier to cut than a chain or U-lock – use it as an extra. |
| Disc brake lock and handlebar lock | As a second lock, or very short stops within sight | Stops the vehicle being rolled away, but it can still be lifted. |
How to choose a lock for your model is covered on our page of electric scooter locks, where you will find U-locks, chain locks, folding locks and disc brake locks, among others.
How to spot a good lock
Look for an independent rating rather than the manufacturer's own "security level" – those can't be compared between brands. In the UK the name to look for is Sold Secure; for e-bikes it recommends locks with its Powered Cycle rating, and BikeRadar's guide to the Sold Secure grades explains what each level means.
In the Netherlands, look for ART stars; in France, the FUB's "2 roues" label. If the product description doesn't mention a rating, don't assume the lock has one.
Riding a speed pedelec? It counts as a moped, so pick a lock rated for mopeds or motorcycles – more in our guide to e-bike laws in Europe.
Also check which lock your insurer requires for a full payout. We cover this in our guide to electric scooter insurance in Europe.
Lock through the frame
- Lock through the frame, ideally near the folding joint of the stem, to something that is firmly fixed – a lamp post or a bolted-down bike rack, for example. A common mistake is locking only around the stem. It is often held by a folding joint or screws, so the lock may come off without being broken.
- Lock the wheel too, with the same lock or a second one.
- Use two different types of lock. Which? passes on the advice to use two different lock types, one of them a U-lock – a thief then needs two different tools.
- Keep the lock off the ground. A lock lying on the pavement lets a thief brace bolt cutters against the ground and put their whole weight behind them.
- Always lock, even for short stops. "I'll only be a minute" is exactly the minute a thief needs.
- Use the lock function in the app if your electric scooter has one, but treat it as an extra. It won't stop anyone carrying the vehicle away.
Want to see it done? BikeRadar's five-step guide to locking a bike walks through the same routine, with photos.
Alarms and trackers: useful extras, not a lock
Alarms
An alarm with a motion sensor sounds when someone moves the vehicle and draws attention to it. It can scare off an opportunist thief, but it doesn't lock anything – and an alarm with a flat battery stays silent.
Use the alarm together with a lock, keep it charged and test the sensitivity at home. There are also disc brake locks with a built-in alarm. See our alarms for electric scooters and e-bikes.
AirTag and other Find My trackers
An AirTag has no GPS of its own. It sends a Bluetooth signal that nearby Apple devices in the Find My network pick up and pass on, so you can see its location in the Find My app. That is why it works best where lots of people pass by.
Hide the tracker well, for example in an AirTag holder under the saddle or in a case on the electric scooter.
Be aware of the limitation. AirTag is designed to discourage unwanted tracking: someone travelling with an AirTag that belongs to someone else can get an alert on their iPhone or Android phone. An AirTag that has been separated from its owner for a while also plays a sound when it is moved. Apple explains how these alerts work.
So a thief may discover the tracker and remove it. Even so, it can improve your chances of finding the vehicle again. Treat it as an addition to the lock, not as theft protection in itself.
GPS trackers with a SIM card
A GPS tracker with a SIM card sends its position itself over the mobile network, even where there are no phones nearby. It usually needs a subscription and power, either from its own battery or from the vehicle's.
Some electric scooters and e-bikes have tracking or an alarm built into their app. Your manual tells you what your model has.
Mind privacy: only use a tracker on your own property. If someone borrows the vehicle, tell them it has a tracker, and never use it to keep tabs on a person.
Parking and habits
- Indoors at night. Keep the electric scooter or e-bike in your home, a locked storeroom or a locked bike room – and lock it there too. This is where a folding e-scooter has the edge: it can come into the office with you. It's one of the differences we compare in electric scooter vs e-bike.
- Well lit and in view. Where people can see the vehicle, a theft attempt is more likely to be noticed and the thief scared off.
- Take the battery with you. It's usually quick, and the battery is one of the most expensive parts – according to SSF, the Swedish theft prevention association, e-bike batteries are among the bike parts stolen most often. If you really can't, at least lock it. On many electric scooters the battery is built into the frame, which makes the lock even more important.
- Take the display with you if it comes off, along with loose parts such as a basket or light.
- Change the default code on combination locks and keep the spare key at home, not in the bag on the vehicle.
- Parking under cover also protects the electronics from rain and damp. Read more about riding an electric scooter in the rain.
Marking and frame number
When you report a theft, the police will ask for the frame number or other marking. Without it, a recovered vehicle is hard to link to you.
- Write down the frame or serial number. Your manual shows where the manufacturer has put it. If it doesn't say, look for a number stamped into the frame.
- Take photos of the number, the whole vehicle and any distinguishing features, and keep them with the receipt on your phone or in the cloud.
- Mark the vehicle, for example with a code engraved in the frame. A marked bike is harder for a thief to sell and easier for the police to trace back to you.
If your electric scooter is stolen
- Theft happening now? Call 112. It is the emergency number everywhere in the EU, and the call is free.
- Report it to the police as soon as possible. Have the frame number, make, model and colour ready, and say whether the vehicle was locked. In some countries you can also report a theft online.
- If you have a tracker, give the police its position. Don't go there yourself. If you find the vehicle later, contact the police before you take it back.
- Contact your insurer after reporting to the police, with the report number, the receipt and the frame number. What your policy may pay for is explained in our guide to insurance after a theft.
- Change codes and passwords if the lock had a code or the vehicle was linked to an account in an app.
If you need a copy of your receipt or order confirmation, contact our customer service.
