Metal theft meets bike theft: proving nowhere is secure

When Virgin Media confirmed this month that dozens of its broadband cabinets in Nottinghamshire had been stripped of their metal covers, residents worried about exposed wiring and scruffy streets. The company promised swift repairs and urged people not to approach the open boxes.

On the face of it, the incident was a straightforward case of metal theft. But it gave us a distinct sense of déjà vu. Back in April , we unveiled our April Fool: cyclists disguising their bikes as those very same street cabinets, turning drab metal boxes into rideable sheds that could be parked invisibly on any pavement.

<div style="padding:100% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1071135604?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Mobile cycle shed"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

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London records more than 20,000 stolen bikes a year, and the shortage of secure cycle storage is an everyday frustration. Locking racks are oversubscribed, hangars have long waiting lists, and even heavy-duty locks are no guarantee against determined thieves. The idea of hiding a bicycle in plain sight, camouflaged as a nondescript slab of galvanised steel, was meant as a tongue-in-cheek solution.

Fast-forward to autumn 2025, and reality has delivered a darker punchline. Rather than bikes seeking refuge in these street utility boxes, the boxes themselves have been stolen. Nowhere, it seems, is truly safe. If thieves will prise up heavy metal cabinets bolted into pavements, they will just as happily strip a locked bike from a rack.

That might offer a little dark humour, but the problem it points to is real. Cycle theft remains a daily hazard - which is why our cycle insurance includes theft cover, new-for-old replacement, and even roadside rescue if you’re stranded with a broken chain or flat e-bike battery.

Get Cycle Rescue for free with ETA bicycle insurance

If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location. The service is included for free with ETA cycle insurance, along with:

• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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