Hey everyone,
Not to throw gas on the bike theft fire that has definitely flaired up recently, but I thought I should post this as a warning to other cyclists.
This past Saturday night between the hours of 1am and 8am my commuter/mountain bike was stolen out of my back yard in quiet little Lincoln Square (sarcasm). It was chained up with a U-lock and a cable lock to a support for an elevated deck. The weakest link was definitely the cable lock which was cut via bolt cutters for sure. Didn't have another option to anchor the bike down as the U-lock couldn't reach around the post. Future bikes will be stored indoors no matter how inconvienent.
There are 3 other bikes in the back yard, all beach cruisers left untouched. The bike had been there all last year and stored inside over the winter. It had not left the back yard this season and my back yard can not be seen from the alley or the street. No one had seen the bike out and about to be targeted.
Someone literally had to walk to the back, open the gate, walk to the bike, cut the bolt and wheel it out next to the building. Either an extremely lucky "fishing" expidition for someone, or they saw it from a neighbor's back yard.
Either way, I wanted to let you know that this type of crap is going on in every area, so if at all possible lock your bike indoors or risk losing it. I hope my renters insurance will cover it without lowballing me on replacement value. I did report it to the police and will file it on the stolen registry.
It is a brighter Royal blue Mongoose hardtail no-suspension mountain bike with grip shifters, shimano components, custom wheels and tires. I really don't expect to see it again, but if you see it, let me know.
Tags:
Or a scrapper. Don't put it past them.
A couple of months ago PJ and I went to recycle his bent frame and fork and got .92 cents.
I believe some scrappers actually are stealing bikes. If anyone knows the value of things, a scrapper does, so don't presume that they're stealing them for scrap metal.
Anyone know a scrapper? Over the last two years the price of metal dropped such that it's barely worth the gas to drive around looking for scrap. Many or even most who supported themselves by scrapping are unable to do so anymore.
203 members
1 member
270 members
1 member
261 members