Police warn cyclists of thieves using GPS apps to steal bikes

Thieves can spot where riders live using their GPS data, advise Dyfed-Powys Police

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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