I read this article some years back in one of the Brit magazine, IIRC.
Should add attribution to original author.

Big problem with it is they talk to a UK cop ... and then an American thief.
Huge contrast between the two regards bike theft. Would have been much better to talk to a UK thief ... there's plenty of 'em! (apparently)

In the USA bike theft is barely a blip on the radar. The police won't even come out to the scene of a theft in big US cities. You'll have to go to the station to file a report.
Will they investigate? Not a chance.
But why?

See, in America we have something that barely exists in the UK. It's called real violent crime. Lots of MURDER. Everyday. MURDER. Everybody has a gun and we have shootings everyday in cities like L.A. and Oakland. The stats are off the charts and truly stunning.

How many gun murders happen in the UK in a year? Very few, no?
So, for this reason, bike theft is a very low priority for police in the US. The other thing is ... not many thiefs bother with bikes. Far more profit in cars, house breaking or robbing Jewelry stores.

From my multiple visits to the UK and from reading up on the bike scene over the last 20 years ... it's clear bike theft in the UK is endemic. Out of Control. I was warned by everyone I met in the UK to be careful about leaving my bike. (I was)

In the USA most owners would never go to the lengths Brit owners do to prevent theft. I've never seen anyone, anywhere in the USA use a ground anchor. Yet in the UK, nearly everyone has them.

Also, almost NO ONE has Sat trackers mounted and NO ONE uses the little bar codes stick ons to identify parts. Does not exist here. Once again, common in the UK. Some high end guys in the USA may use our Lo-Jak system. But very rare indeed. (expensive)

Here in the USA we often leave our bikes outside. In the UK very few risk it.
Also, in the USA target bikes are much different than the UK. The Stats show that in years past Harley's are high on the list ... or any cruiser. As the American thief says, Supersports are up there too. (Ninja14, GSXR1000, R1,
CBR1000 et al) In UK sport bikes are favored but seems they'll steal anything on two wheels.

Nonetheless ... all the tips in the article are valuable. But I just wanted to point out that bike theft is just not a big deal in the USA. Two type of bikes that are rarely messed with here: Old BMW air heads and beat up dual sport bikes ... like mine.

Here, a cover is a good, simple and cheap way to put off a thief. And as the American thief says ... always lock your steering. In the USA ... just that alone may put the thief onto the next bike in line.

This is what I do when my bike has to live outside or when traveling in dicey areas. (parking garages, street)
Steering locked
Hidden ignition switch (can't be hot wired)
Ignition key cover (hides key hole ... made it myself)
Put bike in 5th gear
Nice Disc lock on rear disc

Leave all the factory safety ignition cut outs hooked up. (clutch, side stand, in gear) All these have the potential to slow down or foil an amateur thief. A thief must be quick above all. Anything to slow them down might help you.

But if the thief is a pro? fug-gett-about-it. Your bike is GONE in 60 seconds!