Bike thief on camera!

I guess if someone really wants your bike, you don't have a chance.  Take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ansaTSw3nbs

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 29, 2011 at 6:43am
Kevin, I'm less worried about stolen pedals than I am about a stolen bike.  A bike locked up without pedals becomes difficult for a thief to ride away on, even if he grinds off the U-Lock and chain.

Kevin C said:
I have never seen an entry on the stolen bike registry for stolen pedals. Lock your frame and wheels, maybe tether your saddle, remove easily detached accessories like lights and computers, don't worry about your pedals.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 29, 2011 at 6:45am

I remember seeing fork locks on bicycles growing up in the Netherlands. Even then they were rare, and mostly a feature on higher-end bikes.

 

It was an interesting solution indeed, because disabling the lock required destroying, or at least disassembling the fork.

 

I don't think it caught on. Possible reasons may be: the added cost at a time when bikes have become commodities, combined with difficulty in communicating the value proposition to consumers. It also may require use of a non-standard fork and/or head tube.

 


Thunder Snow said:

I wonder if putting a disc lock through the chainring and locking it to the downtube would be useful in preventing a thief from pedaling my bike away?  And I wonder why bicycle manufacturers don't provide fork locks as motorcycles do?  When you park a motorcycle, you turn the fork all the way to the left and press in the lock.  That way, even if you try to walk the bike away, you can't straighten the fork, and the bike will just go in left-hand circles.  It seems like it would be useful to bicycle security and the component already exists.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 29, 2011 at 6:48am
Oops, sorry. Missed that portion of the thread. I would think a lack of pedals would make a bike a less attractive target. I hope they notice it has no pedals before they cut the lock.

Thunder Snow said:
Kevin, I'm less worried about stolen pedals than I am about a stolen bike.  A bike locked up without pedals becomes difficult for a thief to ride away on, even if he grinds off the U-Lock and chain.


Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 29, 2011 at 7:23am
(sigh) You're probably right.  So now I'm back to square one, trying to electrify my U-Lock with the guts of a Tazer gun on a 15 second time delay.  Or filling the downtube with small explosives, bright pink paint and a cell phone trigger.  :>P

h' said:

I think there is some amount of merit but IMO not worth the effort, as I believe a good chunk of stolen bikes (50%? More?) are tossed right into motor vehicles at the point of theft.)

Permalink Reply by Robert on August 29, 2011 at 7:27am

I can't have a great and unique looking bike or it gets stolen and I don't want to try to make my bike look ugly because my bike is more than just transportation to me.  Sometimes it just seems like I have to roll the dice and gamble where I have the best odds.  

I masking taped the first bike I built to make look ugly and cover identifying marks.  Now I'm building a bike I find beautiful and unique and the closer she gets to completion, the more worried I get that she will be stolen.  *shrug*  Oh well.  It's not going to stop me from riding!  :)

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 29, 2011 at 7:53am

Robert-

If you take a look at the thefts reported to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry, there are patterns which emerge which make me less worried about being a victim. 35% of the bikes reported were only secured with a cable lock (combination, integrated key lock, or cable and padlock). 20% of the bikes reported weren't locked at all and were stolen from a common area where other people had access or could leave a door unlocked (garage, entryway, basement, back porch). Those two bad practices account for 55% of the thefts reported.

 

As you have seen from the video in this thread, newer u-locks with flat keys are not the end all and be all, but together with heavy duty bike security chains, they represent the best defense from all but the most determined, and well-equipped bike thieves. (The heavy duty bike chains may actually be better than the u-locks in that they present a less stable target for power tools). Even reports we get where the victim had employed a u-lock include instances of locking to street signs which were removed, locking to a wrought iron fence or wooden beam which was broken or cut, locking to a sapling, or locking the bike only to itself. I don't want to jinx it, but Howard and I both think there are a relatively small number (less than half a dozen?) of professional bike thieves in the City of Chicago who employ angle grinders while plying their trade.

 

Lock your bike to a secure object, preferably a bike rack or parking meter (which has been left as a courtesy to bicyclists), with a newer u-lock with flat key, a heavy duty security chain, or best of all two of the above, and you will put yourself into a statistical victim class of maybe 15-18%. 

Permalink Reply by Robert on August 29, 2011 at 8:26am

Kevin, h'

The Chain/lock combo @ the bikeregistry is INCREDIBLE! Add that to 2 U Locks and I'm set!

It's heavy, but with 1 for ea. wheel to connect it to the frame and the chain to connect it to a solid post, it could be easier to hook up and more secure at the same time.  Granted, it would be VERY heavy, but Clementine (my bikes name) is worth it! :)

Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on August 29, 2011 at 9:21am
Possible to coat a U-lock in perforated or pre-shattered glass so it would shower with shards anyone taking a grinder to it? 
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 29, 2011 at 9:34am
Probably as easy to avoid the shards of glass as it is to avoid the stream of molten steel.

Moc Artsy said:
Possible to coat a U-lock in perforated or pre-shattered glass so it would shower with shards anyone taking a grinder to it? 
Permalink Reply by Robert on August 29, 2011 at 9:42am

Cameron,

Leaving the locks at places I visit often is a great idea, thanks.  Does anyone think it would be in bad taste to leave a set of 3 locks at Target?  I'm more concerned what other bikers would think than I am with what Target would think.

I'm just curious.  I visit there very often and the idea of not having to carry the weight or take up the space of locks when shopping is VERY appealing.  
 


Cameron Puetz said:
If you want the security, but don't want the weight, leave a chain at racks you use frequently. I keep heavy duty security chain on the rack at my office so that when I commute I only have to carry the mini u-lock and cable lock combo I use for running quick errands, but still have the higher security level where my bike is locked for 8-12 hours.


Robert said:

Kevin, h'

The Chain/lock combo @ the bikeregistry is INCREDIBLE! Add that to 2 U Locks and I'm set!

It's heavy, but with 1 for ea. wheel to connect it to the frame and the chain to connect it to a solid post, it could be easier to hook up and more secure at the same time.  Granted, it would be VERY heavy, but Clementine (my bikes name) is worth it! :)

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 29, 2011 at 9:47am
I'd probably ask permission of the store manager first, emphasizing to him or her how much money you spend there every week.  Otherwise, you may find one day that they've cut them off the rack as "abandoned locks".

Robert said:

Does anyone think it would be in bad taste to leave a set of 3 locks at Target?  I'm more concerned what other bikers would think than I am with what Target would think.

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