FUN FACTS - The Bike Theft Edition

We are entering high season for Bike Theft in the City of Chicago. Reports to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry are starting to come in at the rate of more than one per day. If last year is any indication, they’ll peak out at a rate of more than four per day, and a really busy day may see as many as ten thefts reported in a single day.

 

I believe in the axiom that if a bike thief really wants to steal your bike, there’s not much you can do to keep your bike from getting stolen. But I also believe in the axiom that if you only lock your bike with a cable lock, or a combination cable lock, or a cable and padlock, or you don’t lock your bike at all, your bike is going to get stolen even if the thieves only “sort of” want to steal your bike. I also fervently believe in the punchline “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I only have to outrun you.”

 

Facts:

There are about 2500 bikes listed on the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry (CSBR).

 

20% of those stolen bikes (CSBR) weren’t locked - no lock at all. Nothing. Nada. Bupkis.

 

34% of those stolen bikes (CSBR) were locked with either a combination cable lock, a cable with an integrated key lock or a cable with a padlock.

 

The Chicago Police Department does not maintain theft data specifically for bikes, but estimates that in excess of 5000 bikes per year are stolen in the City of Chicago.

 

Fewer than half of the CSBR entries contain a serial number, which just happens to be the single most important piece of information for identifying and recovering a stolen bike.

 

I know what you’re saying. “Hey wait just a minute Kevin, these aren’t Fun Facts. Truthfully, these are pretty depressing statistics. Throw us a bone, would you?” 

 

OK, but just this once...

 

I have yet to see an entry on the CSBR for a bike which was cross-locked; i.e. two U-locks or a U-lock together with a heavy duty security chain and padlock.

 

The Chicago Stolen Bike Registry now contains a link which enables you to register your bike BEFORE IT’S STOLEN. The link is to Bike Revolution, an organization based in London which enables you to register your bike, enter a photo if you like, record any identifying accessories that distinguish your bike and print a certificate for your records. A dirty little secret about registering your bike with the Chicago Police Department is that your registration drops out of their system every two years. The people behind the curtain at the CSBR have maintained six and a half years of data regarding thefts, and pledge to retain the registration data through and including the date you sell or dispose of your bike, or the date on which you attend your first grandchild’s grammar school graduation, whichever date comes first. 

 

Kryptonite used to do an annual list of the top ten worst cities in the US for bike theft. (The underlying Kryptonite data is proprietary, but the worst cities are based on rate of theft rather than gross numbers, and reading between the lines, relates to claims on the Kryptonite replacement guarantee.) New York was always #1 followed by everyone else. By the time they stopped 3 years ago, NY settled at #3, with Philadelphia at #1 and Chicago at #2. I spoke with the brand manager at Kryptonite a couple of times last fall seeking insight into how Chicago could use the lessons learned in NY to reduce theft in Chicago. Was it the fact that New York got a Kryptonite lock named after them? Nah, it was awareness, pure and simple. The publicity associated with being the worst city in the US for bike theft made people in New York more aware of how and where they locked their bike. It made New Yawkers more aware that they needed to spend some money for the best lock(s) they could afford, and lock their bike every time-even if they were just going inside “for a minute.”   

 

I don’t want to blame the victim here, but 54% of the bikes stolen in the City of Chicago either aren’t locked or are locked with a cable lock. A little awareness of that fact alone could reduce the incidence of bike theft in Chicago substantially. Recovery rates for bicycles where the owner doesn’t even know their serial number are abyssmal. Until these facts change, my strategy is: I lock my bike with two U-locks (and a cable) anytime I leave my transportation/commuter unattended for longer than half an hour. If I leave it unattended for less than that, I have one U-lock on it. If I’m lucky, I get to lock my bike to a bike rack with two U-locks next to a bike locked with a combination cable lock.

 

Register your bike. Write down your serial number.

 

Riding a bike is fun. Returning to the location where you locked your bike and finding it there is almost as much fun.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 7, 2011 at 12:40am

It takes 30 seconds maximum to cut through most locks.  What is 30 more seconds?  They already have the power tool to cut the first lock the second (or third) cut isn't going to take them very long in great scheme of things.  If they want your bike and have a power tool they are going to get it.

 

The very best defense mechanism is to have a bike that they are not going to sell for a lot of money.  That makes them move down the bike rack to a bike that they can make more of a profit off of.  It's all about the laws of supply and demand here.  Your $75 bike isn't likely to get stolen if it is properly locked up even with one lock unless a wheel is exposed that they might take.  The bike they can sell for $500 of easy profit because it retails for over $1000 new is a different story.  Sad but true fact.  In this city you just can't have anything nice. 

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 7, 2011 at 1:29am
Please explain to me how, exactly, you can do that.

Rene Lawell said:
just dont leave your bike unattended.

Julie Hochstadter said:

I do the first, even with my lock sometimes.  It will still take time to either get the helmet off or at least double the time since they have to cut to things...  Anything you can do to add time I think wards off would be theives.

 

Julie

Tour de Cure said:

I once read an article about how to slow down a theif if you have to run into a store for two minutes and don't have a lock.  1.  Put your helmet straps through the spokes of your wheel and then snap the strap closed.  A theif will have to take a few seconds to undo your strap to ride off with your bike which may give you time to dive out the door and stop them.  The other thing to do is put the gears in the hardest gearing to ride; the big ring up front and the small ring in the back.  If someone trys to ride off with your bike, it will be very hard for them to pedal and it will probably take them a while to either get up to speed or to shift your bike which also buys you some time.  These two things together will slow a theif down by a fair amount and give you a chance to stop them.
Permalink Reply by knowbody on May 7, 2011 at 4:37am

one can also put a tie wrap that is of a similar color as the handlebar tape which can be set to keep the brakes engaged. this can be loosely attached by the open end of the brake levers with something to keep the tie wrap from coming off when not in use.

 

this has been a successful trick of mine. not sure if anybody else does it or if there are any products designed to do this already. it won't take most people long to realize the deceit but it's so funny to watch someone fall over as they mount the bike wondering why it is so difficult to pedal.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 7, 2011 at 4:44am

Or you can remove the bottom bracket from your bike.  

 

That should slow the thief down.  

Permalink Reply by ChristopherMCA on May 7, 2011 at 6:48am

Locking the rear wheel and frame vs the front wheel and frame does make a difference.

 

The rear wheel has far more value then a front wheel no matter what type of bike you ride.

the thief takes your rear wheel they can sell your wheel as a whole or just parts of it: rim, hub, gear(s) and they can take your chain while their at it. 


Kevin Conway said:

Paranoid is good-it means you're paying attention. I carry with me the added paranoia of being one of the administrators for the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry, as well as the paranoia associated with being a member of the Bicycle Recovery Collective. You have no idea how uncool it would be if my bike got lifted...

 

In keeping with my heightened sense of responsibility/paranoia, I know that in single lock thefts, 32% are locked through the front wheel and frame, but only 5% are locked through the rear wheel and frame. My rational being says that's due to 6+ times more people locking their bike only through the front wheel and frame as compared to rear wheel and frame. My paranoid/superstitious being says that where there's a difference of a factor of six, I use my best lock on the rear wheel and frame. Might not make a difference, but you never know.

Melanie said:

I'm paranoid, so I carry two U-Locks. I lock the frame and front wheel to the rack/post, as well as use the other u-lock to lock the frame and back wheel to the rack or post when possible- otherwise, I use the second lock to secure wheel to frame. I also think that a thief is more likely to pass on my bike in favor of one not locked with 2 U-locks.
Permalink Reply by Michael S on May 7, 2011 at 2:58pm

A lot of great thoughts here. Thanks, I had my bike stolen last summer and learned my lesson. I took the advice on here and picked up a second U lock (which came with a cable). I'm not sure I can do much more. It's a shame we have to do so much to keep our own property.

 

After I had my bike stolen, I wished there was a way to alert other bikers that a bike was stolen from this pole, area, etc. Anyone ever think of making up stickers to put on the posts where bikes are stolen?

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 9, 2011 at 4:12am

EPILOGUE:

It's Monday morning 5/9-four and a half days after I posted the FUN FACTS. In the time since the initial post, 8 stolen bike's have been added to the CSBR. 

1. unlocked bike in garage;

2. unlocked bike in building vestibule;

3. cable with padlock;

4. combination cable lock;

5. unlocked bike/building bike room;

6. unlocked bike/building bike room;

7. combination cable lock;

8. newer U-lock w/flat key (yes! yes!) sign it was locked to was compromised (boo!).

 

It's like I'm psychic or something...

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 9, 2011 at 4:19am

It's very telling.

 

Interesting to note how a "secure" inside storage space often isn't.  Bike rooms that are not secure are like shopping malls for thieves.   One might as well tape $100 bills to the walls inside them to save them the trouble of having to carry a bike -but at least they can ride back to their crib rather than walking... 

Kevin Conway said:

EPILOGUE:

It's Monday morning 5/9-four and a half days after I posted the FUN FACTS. In the time since the initial post, 8 stolen bike's have been added to the CSBR. 

1. unlocked bike in garage;

2. unlocked bike in building vestibule;

3. cable with padlock;

4. combination cable lock;

5. unlocked bike/building bike room;

6. unlocked bike/building bike room;

7. combination cable lock;

8. newer U-lock w/flat key (yes! yes!) sign it was locked to was compromised (boo!).

 

It's like I'm psychic or something...

 

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on May 9, 2011 at 4:34am
The warm weather brings out the thieves and the greed. I still honestly do not understand people who keep using cable locks as their primary lock in the city.  Even when I had a bike that wasn't worth more than $50 and looked like it was worth less than that, I still put a U-Lock on it. As far as storage rooms, all it takes is one person to open the door and allow someone entry to the room, or rig the lock so that it doesn't actually click shut so they can come back another day/time and get the pick of whatever is there. Don't most of the storage rooms have racks that you can lock your bike up against, inside the storage room? Just wondering. I do feel bad for everyone who gets their bike stolen although I think a lot of the thefts could be prevented, although not all- if a thief really wants a bike, they will find a way to get it. Sadly, we have to just make it harder for them.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 9, 2011 at 4:44am

I agree with Melanie.  There is no point in making theft easier for them than necessary.  I think a lot of bike theives are casual crooks who see a target of opportunity and make off with them.  Many don't even sell the bikes and keep them around sometimes for personal use.  Looking at some of the eclectic collections of old used bikes that show up I wonder how many of these are the products of opportunist hoarder thieves. 


I"m sure that if everyone started using better locks it would cut down on some of the thievery but it might also just touch off an arms race between the professional crooks and the riders with the nicer bikes worth stealing.   I guess as a responsible bike owner who uses a U-lock and often a secondary cable for the far wheel (I'm a nutter who doesn't QR -being into vintage bikes) I benifit from those who don't take their bike security as seriously.  It's the whole "running shoes and the bear" analogy.  If everyone else starts wearing running shoes I'm going to have to learn to run faster. 

 

But it would be best if somehow something could be done to both deter the thieves from stealing bikes in the first place and actually DO something about them when they are caught other than a minor slap on the wrist.  The criminal justice system in this country is broken and something as "minor" as petty bike theft just isn't taken seriously by the authorities. 

Permalink Reply by Rene Lawell on May 9, 2011 at 6:46am

Hello,

 

Somehow you need to not leave the bike un-attended ever. If you must go into a store, or eatery, ask if you can bring the bike with you, or lock it, in your site outside. The other thing you can do it to plan your ride better, so you can plan not to leave the bike un-attended. I realize its hard in the city to do this, but may be you need two bikes, one that folds you can take into a store to do your shopping and going out to eat, and another bike just 4 riding, and bring your lunch with you. Or bike with a buddy, and have them stay put and watch the bikes, while you go in for a bathroom break, or lunch and bring something out for your buddy as well. This can be done.

 

As far as the secure building, not even your apt is secure unless you live in a secured building with a gate, then still bring your bike inside to your dwelling, lock it inside. NEVER EVER leave a bike in a bike area the apartment manager has deem secure, he is the first one stealing your bike. As for storage places you rent, no way ever. If you miss a payment they open the storage and sell off your stuff.

 

If you have a patio that is at least 3 floors up, then store it there with a lock, and a cable, and cover it.

that is my .02 cents BTW.

 

Rene

Our Gang Bicycle Club

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 9, 2011 at 7:35am

We live in an 8-unit condo that was converted from an old small apartment building.  There is a security gate in the front and another out back.   It's nice to keep the riff-raff out (usually just homeless guys who would otherwise want to crawl in for a place to sleep) but I wouldn't trust a bike inside the yard or even in the common area of the front stairs inside without a lock on it.  Someone is always leaving the gate ajar or the locking knob is getting messed up or the return spring on the door closure is not pushing it latched correctly all the time.  Every time someone moves in or out or there is a service guy they jimmy the lock so that it doesn't work right and I have to fix it. 

 

The only secure spot in the building is our own condo on the inside.  I've got good locks on them with extra-duty strike-plates and 8" cement-boring lag screws shot into the masonry with steel-core doors.  Even so, if someone wanted to get in they could with enough force.  But I"m not going to lock up my bikes inside my own place.  I've probably got more valuable stuff like computers and laptops they'd steel first anyhow if they got in. 

 

But leaving it outside of stores when running errands a good U-lock or two will do the trick for a short time.  But I wouldn't trust anything but a beater outside overnight.  I see people with their bikes locked out to the front fence in many neighborhoods around chicago.   I just couldn't do that myself.  Too much access to thieves and too much exposure to the weather. 

 

 

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