The Chainlink

Parts theft in the Loop

Just wanted to let everyone know that in the last week I've had two parts stolen from my bike locked up in front of my office at 30 N. LaSalle.  Last week someone stole my headlight bracket from my handlebars; not the light, mind you (I always take that with me), just the bracket.  WTF?  Yesterday, someone stole my Brooks saddle and seat post. The thing was perfectly molded to my arse too.  I should have had it tethered to my frame.  Anyway, if you park near this area be extra careful and secure all of your stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on November 22, 2011 at 10:01am

Thanks for the heads up.

Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on November 22, 2011 at 10:22am

was the seat on a "quick release"?

I have a bolt for my seat post and front & back wheels...in your opinion,does this make a huge difference?

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on November 22, 2011 at 10:44am

No quick release.  Post was bolted on, but apparently a quick turn of a hex wrench was no deterrent.  I am thinking of getting a set of Pitlocks for seat, and wheels.  What a pain.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on November 22, 2011 at 10:59am

Sorry to hear about the thefts- that's awful.  Bracket for your light? How weird.  

Definitely will be more careful about locking up when downtown, although I think the only thing you could do for a light bracket would be to glue it on permanently. 

Permalink Reply by Fran Kondorf on November 22, 2011 at 11:22am

Sorry about your losses and thanks for the warning.

Sounds like they were casing your ride.

May a great and terrible pox inflict all bike thieves across the land.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on November 22, 2011 at 11:42am

That is crazy about just the bracket.  I have lost many lights since I would not remember to clip them out and take them with me.  This is my current fave which I can leave on.  http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Radian-Bike-Light-Black/dp/B003NTL7IO

I now have two in the front and two in the back....oh, a hipster I am not!

Permalink Reply by Liz on November 22, 2011 at 11:49am

Cam had a brooks stolen 2 years ago right before Christmas in front of out office (55 E Monroe) (fortunately he has an awesome girlfriend who bought him a replacement for Christmas).  

 

Last week he had someone eyeing his bike and asking about his components, so he changed up locking locations.  He keeps a little tether, but for a brooks I would recommend both a tether and a chain around it (since more part thieves don't carry a chain breaker but they do carry clippers).  

 

I just don't understand the light bracket, its such a useless item to steal and annoying item to replace. 

Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on November 22, 2011 at 12:39pm
A quick suggestion, for your seatpost binder bolt put a BB in it with a little solder to fill in the rest of the recessed bolt area. Not thief proof but makes it a more difficult target and takes much longer to remove.

A for the light bracket I have no idea why it would be taken?
Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on November 22, 2011 at 1:09pm
A pipe cutter would be faster.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on November 22, 2011 at 1:36pm

I haven't decided whether to replace the Brooks or not.  I'm not sure I understand your use of a separate collar on the seat clamp.  Could you perhaps explain more?  Thanks.

kiltedcelt said:

The light bracket was probably stolen by someone just being a dick. The Brooks, well I would never trust a saddle like that to a hex bolt collar. I plan on buying a Velo Orange touring saddle, or a Brooks. When I get mine I plan on securing it with Pitlocks to lock both the seat post and a separate collar to block the use of Allen wrenches on the seat clamp on the top of the seat post. I see a lot of folks securing fancy saddles with either a cable or occasionally with a piece of bike chain. Either option will slow down a thief but will not defeat them. Thinking that a thief will need a chaintool to steal your saddle, provided you've secured it with a section of chain is just wishful thinking. A good set of lineman's pliers (probably already in the thief's tool kit), will cut right through the chain plates. Pit locks combined with collars are probably the most secure way to ensure your expensive, well-broken-in saddle will still be on your bike at the end of the day. Of course there are supposedly ways to defeat even Pitlocks, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say most thieves will give your bike a pass if you're protecting it that heavily. Of course now that I think of it, a really determined thief who just really has to have your fancy leather saddle, can always just cut your seat post in half with a hacksaw, Pitlocks or not. The only way around that is to upend your seat post and fill it with concrete I guess.

Permalink Reply by Liz on November 22, 2011 at 2:17pm

a thief could eventually work through anything, no matter what you do, but making it more complicated reduces the risk.  My guess is the guys stealing random parts are not the guys carrying a complicated kit (those guys just take the whole bike),  its someone who's able to get their hands on one or two tools and do things that are easy. 

Permalink Reply by ad on November 22, 2011 at 4:03pm

While I have no doubt this method would work well, I think it's fair to note you're talking close to $80 (2 pitlock seat skewers at $40 a piece) just to secure the saddle.  Might be worth it to a lot of people (especially those with $200-300+ saddles), but I would like to know first how often chains and cables securing a saddle are really being defeated by thieves.  Anyone have a good guess on how often that really happens??         

kiltedcelt said:

The light bracket was probably stolen by someone just being a dick. The Brooks, well I would never trust a saddle like that to a hex bolt collar. I plan on buying a Velo Orange touring saddle, or a Brooks. When I get mine I plan on securing it with Pitlocks to lock both the seat post and a separate collar to block the use of Allen wrenches on the seat clamp on the top of the seat post. I see a lot of folks securing fancy saddles with either a cable or occasionally with a piece of bike chain. Either option will slow down a thief but will not defeat them. Thinking that a thief will need a chaintool to steal your saddle, provided you've secured it with a section of chain is just wishful thinking. A good set of lineman's pliers (probably already in the thief's tool kit), will cut right through the chain plates. Pit locks combined with collars are probably the most secure way to ensure your expensive, well-broken-in saddle will still be on your bike at the end of the day. Of course there are supposedly ways to defeat even Pitlocks, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say most thieves will give your bike a pass if you're protecting it that heavily. Of course now that I think of it, a really determined thief who just really has to have your fancy leather saddle, can always just cut your seat post in half with a hacksaw, Pitlocks or not. The only way around that is to upend your seat post and fill it with concrete I guess.

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