In Bas-Rhin, France, more than 50% of cyclists have already reported a theft according to our 2024 barometer on theft risks in different means of transport*. Logical, when you know that Strasbourg, France, is the European capital of cycling. And precisely, our testimony comes directly from this department!
Let’s get to know each other a bit, can you introduce yourself in a few words? #
My name is Jessica, I’m 46 years old and I live in the lovely city of Nancy. I am a Product Designer in tech and I am really addicted to new technologies that are part of my daily life.
I have been using my longtail bike, a Tern GSD, daily for all my trips and in all weather for 4 years. My offices are located on the 3rd floor and I can’t bring my bike inside, it parks on the street at the dedicated parking racks.
My bike follows me everywhere because it has completely allowed me to rediscover the city and move around much more easily in a city overloaded with traffic jams. It allowed me to indirectly introduce the joys of cycling to my young son, whom I did not want to see cycling in the middle of traffic without dedicated bike lanes.
What equipment did you have to protect your bike before purchasing your tracker? #
My Tracker was part of my purchase package when I acquired my GSD. A bike of this value, it was out of the question to leave it alone outside!
I bought my bike in a specialized shop in Strasbourg, which is really a pioneer in terms of soft mobility and their advice was invaluable when buying the bike for all the necessary equipment from helmets to locks and insurance.
Why did you decide to equip your bike with a GPS tracker? #
As I said, the value of my bike directly calmed me down and I immediately chose to insure it and associate it with a tracker on the advice of my dealer. I also knew that my bike could be coveted because it was then little present in a city like Nancy which was gradually moving towards soft mobility. I also knew that the city was prone to bike thefts.
Why Invoxia rather than another brand? #
I think what convinced me was the hiding system (which I will not reveal here, so as not to give all the keys to the thief who looks to brands for what type of tracker and hiding place is available). The price was super competitive and the subscription system inexpensive, the app easy to install and use.
My model is already 4 years old and was specially designed for the bike with an accessory provided to install it on the bike.
Your bike was stolen last year, can you tell us how it happened? #
Indeed, my bike was stolen in December 2024. I had parked it at its usual spot at 9 am. When I go out at 5:50 pm, the bike is no longer there!
I wonder for a moment thinking that I put it elsewhere because it’s raining and I sometimes put it under cover at the station when it can. But immediately, I remember parking it outside at the usual attachment point! Without hesitation, I open my Invoxia app and see that it is on the other side of the city!
I call 17 and an officer immediately asks me if the bike is still in the city and if it is moving. I look at the history which shows me the bike’s movements since 1 pm and which doesn’t seem to have moved since 4 pm. He puts me in touch with the BAC who recognizes that the area where it seems to be signaling is a place known by the Police services as a stolen bike spot, because there are abandoned cellars where it is easy to store them while waiting to evacuate the bikes.
I send them the GPS coordinates and a photo of my bike.
In the meantime, I realize that I had received the movement notifications but I had spent a large part of the afternoon in various meetings preventing me from checking my phone. An hour after my call with the BAC, they call me back to inform me that the bike has been found without visible damage.
I was able to retrieve it the same evening, warmly thanking the police officers and thinking strongly of the whole team that developed Invoxia!! I think after this episode I convinced several of my cyclist friends to invest in this quality tracker!!
How did the GPS tracker help you find your bike? #
The GPS gave me a very precise location. I was also able to transmit all the GPS points sent by the bike to the police forces who were able to highlight a truck thief network. They made the connection between the GPS coordinates and the traffic light cameras, which allowed them to identify the truck where my bike had been loaded!
Only 5% of bikes are found on average in France, often because people don’t file a complaint or the cases are not treated as a priority. Do you think that, without a GPS tracker, the police would have made as much effort to find your bike? #
Indeed, when I called the police to report the theft, the police officer seemed blasé and sorry for me, but when I specified that I had the tracker and that the bike seemed to still be in the city, he chose to put me in touch with the BAC and you know the rest…
After this theft, have you changed your habits in terms of protection? #
I regularly change my parking spot and I have 2 locks. But above all, I don’t delay recharging my tracker when I receive the low battery notification!
And I now have full confidence in the system even though I know the tracker can be found and removed. But it remains a very good complementary protection means!
Do you think that tracking your belongings to protect them is in the air of the times and that the use is becoming more widespread? #
I don’t have much of an opinion on the matter, but as far as the bike is concerned, I am convinced!
If you had to summarize this misadventure in a few words, what would you say? #
Thank you Invoxia for being able to protect and help me find my precious 2 wheels!
*Survey conducted by Invoxia in October 2024 on 7325 respondents in France.