Bicycle thefts are increasingly expensive: Insured people are now threatened with premium increases

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Insurers sound the alarm: The number of bicycle thefts in Switzerland continues to rise. Last year, 35,000 bicycles fell into the hands of thieves. However, not only the number of cases is increasing, but also the amount of damage. This has to do with the e-bike boom in Switzerland. Expensive electric pedals are especially popular among thieves.

At Schweizer Mobiliar, which offers private bicycle insurance as well as household goods insurance, the damage amount is expected to increase to 31 million francs this year. “Tages-Anzeiger” says so. In 2017, this amount was 15 million francs.

Damages are also increasing in Axa. Last year insurance had to pay out almost 18 million francs due to bicycle theft; This is 40 percent more than the previous year.

Premiums may increase

Cities are especially popular with bike thieves. The city of Basel is a notorious leader in bicycle thefts; thieves only avoid the rugged cities of Lausanne and Lugano.

Primary insurers are now considering increasing premiums: “In order to be there for our customers in the long term, we cannot afford for our damage costs to be higher than the premium income,” explains Thomas Trachsler from Mobiliar in “Tages- Anzeiger”.

But the insurance company also wants to make life difficult for thieves: “If we need to take precautions, we check not only the premiums, but also the preventive measures.”

Particularly with e-bikes, there are increasingly opportunities to further enhance physical protection through a lock with electronic safeguards. (Ah)

Source :Blick