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Philadelphians are fighting brazen bike theft with technology and their own wits

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Philadelphians are fighting brazen bike theft with technology and their own wits

Old 10-21-22, 02:45 AM
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bikehoco
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Philadelphians are fighting brazen bike theft with technology and their own wits

Nice article
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philad...outputType=amp

You couldn’t pay me to live in Philly.

Last edited by bikehoco; 10-21-22 at 02:55 AM.
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Old 10-21-22, 05:08 AM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
You couldn’t pay me to live in Philly.
Devastating news for Philly....
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Old 10-21-22, 09:03 AM
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In April, he secured the bike with its new lock at 30th Street Station, figuring there was enough pedestrian foot traffic to deter thieves. He boarded a train for a two-day trip to Virginia. The bike was gone when he returned. Stewart turned on the GPS once again.

Two days locked on the street and was surprised it was gone? Really!!! If he checked the GPS an hour after he left, I'd bet it was gone. Hell why turn the GPS off at all? He could watch his bike travel around town in real time!
'
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Old 10-21-22, 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Devastating news for Philly....
Yeah. I’m crushed he won’t be moving here.
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Old 10-21-22, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Gyro
In April, he secured the bike with its new lock at 30th Street Station, figuring there was enough pedestrian foot traffic to deter thieves. He boarded a train for a two-day trip to Virginia. The bike was gone when he returned. Stewart turned on the GPS once again.

Two days locked on the street and was surprised it was gone? Really!!! If he checked the GPS an hour after he left, I'd bet it was gone. Hell why turn the GPS off at all? He could watch his bike travel around town in real time!
'
Likely wasn’t on the street. The station has racks near the east entrance that are not really close the surrounding streets. That aside, leaving it there for two days was dumb. There is little or no foot traffic much of the night because there is little train service. Probably none for hours. And the eateries inside are closed. I’ve seen stripped bikes locked to the racks before.
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Old 10-21-22, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by shelbyfv
Devastating news for Philly
If I lived in Philly, I’d be less concerned with my bike being stolen and more concerned about being violently attacked …. almost 2,000 people have been shot this year.

The families impacted by violent crime would consider it devastating.

Last edited by bikehoco; 10-21-22 at 03:39 PM.
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Old 10-21-22, 10:34 AM
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It's funny how some of the story is thin and fluffy and some is real reporting
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Old 10-21-22, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
You couldn’t pay me to live in Philly.
I'm sure Philly is grateful.
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Old 10-21-22, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
If I lived in Philly, I’d be less concerned with my bike being stolen and more concerned about dying …. almost 2,000 people have been shot this year.

The families impacted by violent crime would consider it devastating.
Gun violence isn't unique to Philly or even exceptionally high compared to other US cities. There are statistics for all sorts of things but the homicide rate, for example, isn't even in the top 10. FWIW, St Louis leads that one. Anyway, seems that when folks get wound up about some random place (hate on CA much?) it's because they've been glued to certain faux news channels.
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Old 10-21-22, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
It's funny how some of the story is thin and fluffy and some is real reporting
The “Inquirer” turned to crud a long time ago. I used to ride with a guy who worked at its Moscow office, when it had one. One day he was hit by a stray bullet fired by the police during a protest he got caught up in.
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Old 10-21-22, 12:06 PM
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Right where I left it this afternoon. $450 worth of racks and all. What do you know about that?


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Old 10-21-22, 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
If I lived in Philly, I’d be less concerned with my bike being stolen and more concerned about dying …. almost 2,000 people have been shot this year.

The families impacted by violent crime would consider it devastating.
Well you don’t, and this post isn’t about bicycling.

It’s a shame how a small number of people come here to make irrelevant posts. See what I did there?
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Old 10-21-22, 12:26 PM
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...I have adopted a new strategy for protecting my bike when locked up in public. I call one of those Dubai call girl services, and they send someone attractive to watch my bike while I shop.
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Old 10-21-22, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Right where I left it this afternoon. $450 worth of racks and all. What do you know about that?

...it's difficult for me to imagine that bicycle theft is worse in Philadelphia than it is here in Sacramento currently. I use two U locks, just to go into Trader Joes for ten minutes. It takes me longer to lock up and unlock than I spend in the store.
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Old 10-21-22, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
...it's difficult for me to imagine that bicycle theft is worse in Philadelphia than it is here in Sacramento currently.
And you have to back out the thefts caused by stupidity, like leaving your bike locked outside for days, at least in certain areas.

I’ve said this several times before: I’ve been locking up bikes outside in Philadelphia for decades. The only place I had one stolen was from inside my house, while I was home and awake.
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Old 10-21-22, 01:29 PM
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They really need to start hitting these thieves with felonies when they take high value bikes, or destroy the property.
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Old 10-21-22, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Right where I left it this afternoon. $450 worth of racks and all. What do you know about that?


Yeah, sure, but did you die today?
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Old 10-21-22, 02:30 PM
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I couldn't make it through the entire article. Did anyone deface the make and model of their bike?
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Old 10-21-22, 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Yeah, sure, but did you die today?
No, but there’s 7.5 hours left.
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Old 10-21-22, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
...it's difficult for me to imagine that bicycle theft is worse in Philadelphia than it is here in Sacramento currently. I use two U locks, just to go into Trader Joes for ten minutes. It takes me longer to lock up and unlock than I spend in the store.
Agreed, the only bike I ever had stolen was in the Sac metro. Someone stole a mountain bike out of my garage while I was home the first week after I moved into a nice new development in Folsom. That was many years ago now. Still miss all the MUPs in that area.
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Old 10-21-22, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
Yeah, sure, but did you die today?
Cut the U lock with a cordless angle grinder and the bikes are yours. Just sayin’. If you don’t pack one along, that’s cool.
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Old 10-21-22, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
Cut the U lock with a cordless angle grinder and the bikes are yours. Just sayin’. If you don’t pack one along, that’s cool.
Or show up with a compressor and jackhammer and go to work on the concrete the bike rack or street signs is anchored in.
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Old 10-21-22, 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Or show up with a compressor and jackhammer and go to work on the concrete the bike rack or street signs is anchored in.
I like the ingenious thieves which pre-cut the bike racks and then cover the cuts with tape just waiting for the unsuspecting.
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Old 10-21-22, 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
I like the ingenious thieves which pre-cut the bike racks and then cover the cuts with tape just waiting for the unsuspecting.
They are behind every lamppost and in every dark corner. Better watch out.

Boo!
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Old 10-21-22, 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
If I lived in Philly, I’d be less concerned with my bike being stolen and more concerned about being violently attacked …. almost 2,000 people have been shot this year.

The families impacted by violent crime would consider it devastating.
Your life must be such as hassle worrying about things like that all the time. Being so worried and scared all the time is too taxing. Relax, enjoy life, watch out for the occasional falling piano and ride your bike.

You could most certainly pay me to live in Philly. I took a friend their once for her birthday 8-10 years ago and she still mentions it often and when I can travel the distance I love visiting. I mean sure they have a crack in their bell but they are a city and cities do have their issues sometimes.

Crime sucks but that isn't news to anyone. Violent crime happens all over the globe, not saying it is right but saying it is part of the world we have created as humans. Maybe if we all took some time to be decent to each other, ride bikes together and not take everything so heavily all the time, we might move forward?
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