Police in Wales are advising cyclists to increase their privacy settings on GPS phone apps to avoid being targeted by thieves.

Dyfed-Powys Police say criminals are using the apps to determine where cyclists live by tracking the start and finish points of their rides.

Some apps, like Strava, allow users to hide the exact start and finish points of their rides.

Detective Constable Ciaran Ryan of Llanelli CID advised riders not to start recording their rides until they were a few streets away from their house.

“These apps allow users to track their rides and view the rides of others on a map,” he told the BBC.

“Some GPS data is shared publicly on these sites and is so accurate it pinpoints the exact house where their rides have begun and ended.

“This information, along with the facility to post a description and photos of bicycles owned, give a potential thief all the information they need to steal the bike.”

Source: BBC

Ride mapping sites: The bike thief’s new best friend?

Check your privacy settings on ride logging and mapping sites so that no-one knows where your bike is kept

Best cycling apps: iPhone and Android tools for cyclists

We round up the most useful mobile apps for cyclists: if you use an app not listed here, tell us…

How to take a Strava KOM

Struggling to take that Strava KOM? We might be able to help...

Five of the best: Strava art

Hirst, Banksy, Emin. These are just some of the artists who will soon become redundant as a new wave of…

Rider creates massive bike on Strava

David Taylor's 212-mile ride creates a huge bike mapped out around Bournemouth and the New Forest