Immobitag - is the sticker essential?

[22camels]

I have just got an Immobitag that I intend to put on my bike.

So the actual tag is the black plug thing that you insert down the seat tube. I understand that it can be read by police scanning machines in the UK.

Now the instructions also recommend to attach the warning sticker to your frame. The sticker displays a registration code and the words "WARNING: this item is electronically protected even if this tag is removed."

I am wondering, if a stolen bike ends up in the hands of the police, do they scan it (assuming they have the equipment) only if they see this sticker on it, or do they scan sticker-less bikes as well?

It's just that I am not sure it's worth putting the sticker on because I am not convinced it would act as a theft deterrent. It could make the bike look more appealing or alternatively inform the thief that there is a tagging device lodged inside so they can take precautionary measures (although I understand it's impossible to remove the tag without breaking the frame). Even if I do put on the sticker, it may end up getting removed.

Is the sticker an essential part of the immobitag kit or is it optional?

 

[CopperCyclist]

As you suspect, down to the individual police force, their policies, and their equipment.

Mine certainly don't have 'everyday' access to a scanner for stolen bikes, and it's not something that would be done as standard.

My local city police do however have a team (with an excellent success rate) that regularly search the serial numbers of literally everything that is recovered sus stolen (bikes, mobile phones, anything with a unique serial) on websites that allow you to register them, so it's definitely worth getting your frame numbers on something like immobilise.com

If you want to know your local police's policies and procedures, email them (Google the force to find an address) and ask if they have scanners/use property register sites etc.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I have one on my MTB, only to find out my local force don't have the scanners!

I spoke to someone in my local police office who told me to use Smartwater or have the bike stamped with my postcode, which they do free of charge.
If you can't get to your local office, the community officer will come to you

 

[22camels]

But is the sticker necessary?

For those police forces that have and use the scanners, will they scan the seat tube of a bike that does not have a sticker indicating it is immobitagged?

 

[ScotiaLass]

But is the sticker necessary?

For those police forces that have and use the scanners, will they scan the seat tube of a bike that does not have a sticker indicating it is immobitagged?

You'd have to ask your local force about that.
I put the sticker on my bike anyway as it said to...there may be a reason for that, e.g. legal, theft deterrent, etc I don't know.

 

[lpretro1]

The sticker is useful as it advises any would be thief that the bike is indeed tagged - may put them off a bit especially if there are other bikes nearby which are not tagged. We use the uv etching rather than the tags - these only require a cheap uv torch to be able to detect them

 

[John the Monkey]

Depends where you are.

We had an interesting talk from our local force (admittedly a bit ago) in which they said that they didn't have ready access to scanners either - they'd generally be at the station, and probably only one available. Visible marking, and postcode marking was what they recommended, as well as registration with a good description and pictures on Immobilise.com

 

[22camels]

Interesting.

I suppose it would be a bit silly if the police only scanned bikes that had the sticker attached, since the sticker could have been removed.

As far as I can see, UV etching is not available with Immobitag, or do you mean you make up your own UV label? I am also planning to use Bikeregister who do sell a UV marking kit.

I am a bit wary of putting a conspicuous sticker on, as it potentially advertises the fact that it's a valuable bike. I am hoping to keep the bike looking like a piece of crap . Of course the expert thief can still tell apart a good bike, but it might con a few.

 

[lpretro1]

Done all of ours with Datatag - very neat and easy to use kit. As for the sticker - any attempts to remove it damage it - this would advise any would be buyer of a stolen bike that it is just that. It doesn't advise it's an expensive bike just that the owner cares enough about it to bot want to lose it - some of ours are not great financial value by modern day standards