Three Ways to Prevent Mobility Scooter Theft
It's easy to believe that nobody would be so uncaring as to steal a mobility scooter but it happens all the time. Inexperienced thieves know they are expensive devices and know they can sell them for a quick chunk of change. Most scooter owners - thankfully - will never have to experience this, and if you start taking security steps now you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing your scooter is safe wherever you leave it.
Of course, preventing theft isn't a one part process. You have to cover all of the "weak spots" so that criminals do not see your scooter as easy money.
Three Steps to a Safer Scooter
1. Modifying the Scooter
Key ignition systems are one of the most popular aftermarket modifications for mobility scooters. Many scooters are too easy to start without authorization but a key will ensure that nobody tampers you're your scooter. Keys are also handy for homes with curious children around, to prevent them from getting it started and getting hurt. A key switch cannot stop theft in freewheel mode, but they do the job for casual thefts - the rest of the tips in this guide will deal with freewheel mode.
2. Modifying your Transportation
If you have an external scooter lift, you can usually count on the scooter being too high up for most criminals to simply free-wheel off the platform. The older manual lifts are a different matter, definitely not safe for busy areas where theft is a concern. We like enclosed scooter trailers because you can lock them, and when you lock them, the thief has to make a lot of noise to break in. It's not worth the effort in many cases.
3. Modifying your Routine
Unfortunately, storing the scooter on your vehicle is not always an option. Many mobility scooters have found bike locks to be a surprisingly effective deterrent. Most scooter thefts are crimes of opportunity - the ignition/battery disconnect system will stop most of these opportunists but those who know scooters also know that they can just pop it into freewheel mode and load it on a trailer.
Sometimes a bike lock is all it takes to make a criminal think twice about committing such an obvious theft. People will turn their heads and assume that a freewheeling scooter is just broken down and being picked up for repairs, but there is no mistake that somebody cutting a lock is likely a thief.
Following Baby bicycle for 8 year old means that a thief will have to work very hard to steal your scooter and most just aren't willing to put themselves in that much risk.
Of course, preventing theft isn't a one part process. You have to cover all of the "weak spots" so that criminals do not see your scooter as easy money.
Three Steps to a Safer Scooter
1. Modifying the Scooter
Key ignition systems are one of the most popular aftermarket modifications for mobility scooters. Many scooters are too easy to start without authorization but a key will ensure that nobody tampers you're your scooter. Keys are also handy for homes with curious children around, to prevent them from getting it started and getting hurt. A key switch cannot stop theft in freewheel mode, but they do the job for casual thefts - the rest of the tips in this guide will deal with freewheel mode.
2. Modifying your Transportation
If you have an external scooter lift, you can usually count on the scooter being too high up for most criminals to simply free-wheel off the platform. The older manual lifts are a different matter, definitely not safe for busy areas where theft is a concern. We like enclosed scooter trailers because you can lock them, and when you lock them, the thief has to make a lot of noise to break in. It's not worth the effort in many cases.
3. Modifying your Routine
Unfortunately, storing the scooter on your vehicle is not always an option. Many mobility scooters have found bike locks to be a surprisingly effective deterrent. Most scooter thefts are crimes of opportunity - the ignition/battery disconnect system will stop most of these opportunists but those who know scooters also know that they can just pop it into freewheel mode and load it on a trailer.
Sometimes a bike lock is all it takes to make a criminal think twice about committing such an obvious theft. People will turn their heads and assume that a freewheeling scooter is just broken down and being picked up for repairs, but there is no mistake that somebody cutting a lock is likely a thief.
Following Baby bicycle for 8 year old means that a thief will have to work very hard to steal your scooter and most just aren't willing to put themselves in that much risk.
