Bike Theft
04-11-20, 05:49 AM
#26
Senior Member
If you weren't aware of this website, take a look at it now.
It might not be super up to date regarding products, since it's a blog, but there's generally great advice there. When I said anyone can open a combo lock, I was talking about the fact that anyone that can watch a video will know that you can apply some tension to the shackle to decode a combo lock pretty quickly (5 minutes, while explaining it to you). Bottom line, brute force is the method of choice because it works 99% of the time; no thief is concerned with the state of the lock once they have your bike.
It might not be super up to date regarding products, since it's a blog, but there's generally great advice there. When I said anyone can open a combo lock, I was talking about the fact that anyone that can watch a video will know that you can apply some tension to the shackle to decode a combo lock pretty quickly (5 minutes, while explaining it to you). Bottom line, brute force is the method of choice because it works 99% of the time; no thief is concerned with the state of the lock once they have your bike.
04-11-20, 09:06 AM
#27
Member
I will not leave my bike anywhere unattended. I have been out touring and stop for snack or something and take my bike in with me. If I am asked to leave my bike outside, I find another place to spend my money. Locks don’t work , at all! In California anything valued at $950 or less is a misdemeanor and you would be hard pressed to get an officer to even take a report. They will write a ticket if they catch the thief in the act, but that’s it just a ticket. The bike thieves know this and bikes are being ridden around with rattle can paint jobs , handlebars and all , mostly the homeless with backpacks and or trailers in tow. I was trying to get around one on a bike lane when I noticed a pair of bolt cutters hanging out of his trailer. I don’t use my bike for shopping or anything anymore , I just ride it and put it away.
It's really a shame that things have been allowed to deteriorate to that point. When governments decide they can't enforce the law and de-criminalize theft everyone suffers.
04-11-20, 10:18 AM
#28
Member
Rip off the branding stickers, spray valuable stuff with Plastikote flat black removable paint. Let it get scratched. Stick a couple of random decals on it. I now have trouble convincing accommodation managers that my "beaten up" touring bike is worth $4000 and can't be parked outside.
Some guitar manufacturers sell new instruments that are finished to look worn; they refer to the finish as “relic”
Maybe bicycle manufactures should offer new bikes that look distressed to disguise their value.
04-11-20, 03:14 PM
#29
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Ive seen people try to steal bikes in front of others in broad daylight. Madness..
04-11-20, 03:16 PM
#30
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04-11-20, 03:17 PM
#31
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I don't ride where I must leave my bike unattended. But if you do, here's something that might work for you. If your bike has quick release wheels, loosen the quick disconnect when you leave it. Chances are, a thief won't check it and will wreck trying to ride it away, possibly leaving the bike at that point. The bike might get scratched, but it might allow you to keep it. Of course, don't forget to tighten the quick release when you go back to ride it!! If they're stealing it and throwing it into a vehicle, this won't stop them, of course.
04-11-20, 05:19 PM
#32
banana ying yang
Another vote for the beater bike for shopping - unless you really know the area, don't leave a top notch bike unattended....
04-11-20, 07:46 PM
#33
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That "Loosen the QR" idea strikes me as kind of silly. Also ... while the guy might get popped for attempted petty theft, you might get get a weapons charge .... because you suggested in public that you were setting a potentially dangerous and possibly deadly trap.
But .... if I didn't have a lock and needed to go inside---say, I had explosive diarrhea and was in an urban area with nowhere to duck out of sight ... I might just leave the frame inverted and take the wheels with me.
But .... if I didn't have a lock and needed to go inside---say, I had explosive diarrhea and was in an urban area with nowhere to duck out of sight ... I might just leave the frame inverted and take the wheels with me.
04-11-20, 09:21 PM
#34
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I'm a fan of the old school frame lock as well, with the extra plug in cable/chain, especially for touring. The top end ones of those are harder to get to with an angle grinder or bolt cutters, and a bit hidden, cut the cable/chain and the wheel still doesn't go around.
04-11-20, 10:25 PM
#35
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I work in Corrections, I had to laugh when I read that along with the assumption your bike will be safe at your workplace. My son is a cop at a force in the Greater Victoria BC area and an avid rider. His bike was stolen while locked up at the police station. He asked the department to cover it and was turned down. He then went to the police union and they recovered his costs for him. When it comes to bike theft, never assume anything.
04-12-20, 04:32 AM
#36
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Been locking bikes outside in Philadelphia for more than 30 years. Had a bike stolen—from inside my house while I was watching TV. Not talking about beaters. The racks on my LHT are north of $400. I also tour and often camp without locking my bike.
04-12-20, 08:31 AM
#37
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04-12-20, 02:40 PM
#39
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Tweakers and junkies will steal anything. Any property entering the public space is fair game. I know only one guy who ever got a stolen bike back, large muscular friend of his saw the distinctive bike after a facebook post asking for help and took it back from the thief who was riding it. We used to joke that every bike is a 30 lb bike, bike + lock = 30 lbs. That was when a $500 bike was pretty expensive.
04-12-20, 05:37 PM
#40
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That’s exactly the make a model of the bike that was stolen from my house, although that one had custom racks that were irreplaceable. And the panniers only fit those racks. I’d let the thief keep the bike if I could get the racks back. They had a lot of sentimental value in addition to their monetary value.
At least the guy left behind the two custom IFs that were near by.
At least the guy left behind the two custom IFs that were near by.
04-12-20, 05:43 PM
#41
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If I explained why many people would be challenged.
Last edited by indyfabz; 04-12-20 at 06:12 PM.
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04-12-20, 06:14 PM
#43
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04-12-20, 06:36 PM
#44
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That’s exactly the make a model of the bike that was stolen from my house, although that one had custom racks that were irreplaceable. And the panniers only fit those racks. I’d let the thief keep the bike if I could get the racks back. They had a lot of sentimental value in addition to their monetary value.
At least the guy left behind the two custom IFs that were near by.
At least the guy left behind the two custom IFs that were near by.
Truly sorry if I opened old wounds.
I trust in karma ... but is still hurts to lose stuff. My sincere apologies.
..
04-14-20, 09:00 AM
#45
Newbie
That's why I commute using a Walmart BSO. I work at university and I was told any LBS bike parked in campus is going to be stolen in no time, locked or not. Interestingly at the same time there are hundreds, if not thousands of cheap BSO locked at the same place for years and nobody bothers.
04-14-20, 09:04 AM
#46
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That's why I commute using a Walmart BSO. I work at university and I was told any LBS bike parked in campus is going to be stolen in no time, locked or not. Interestingly at the same time there are hundreds, if not thousands of cheap BSO locked at the same place for years and nobody bothers.
