The City Council will continue to hand out computer chips to help locate stolen bikes, even though they are easily removed

A project to prevent bike theft using computer chips that can identify its owner is being continued by City Hall. On Friday, city officials will be at Israels Plads Square to hand out 1,700 of the chips, which are secured to the bike’s frame.

The giveaway is the second of its kind. Around 1,600 chips were installed by city officials during a similar event in June at Town Hall Square that marked the start of the programme.

But the chips, which were secured with two plastic strips, were widely criticised for being easy to peel off.

Anne-Mette Felby Madsen, the project’s coordinator for the City Council, said the June giveaway had been an initial trial for the chip, and the city wanted to make sure bike owners could remove the chips on their own if necessary.

‘People mistakenly thought that it was the city’s responsibility to secure the chips to the bikes, but bike owners have to do that on their own,’ she told The Copenhagen Post.

Madsen added that on Friday people being given a chip will also receive a mounting bracket and screws.

But the Danish Insurance Association fears that the chip will lead to confusion in insurance claim payments.

‘It would be a problem if someone reports their bike as stolen and then it’s found a month afterwards,’ said the association’s Bo Balschmidt. ‘By that time the person would have had their compensation paid out.’

Madsen defended the project, however, saying the city was continually working to improve it.

Those receiving chips on Friday will be entered into a drawing to win one of two new bicycles.

In 2008, 19,171 Copenhageners reported their bikes stolen. However, police said the true figure is far higher since many people typically do not report bicycle theft.