Stolen Bikes - How To Prevent Your Bike From Being Stolen

Advice from Chicagoist...

Aside from the lock-up logistics, you should take proactive steps to protect your ride. It's a smart idea to register your bike. The National Bike Registry is the most well-known, but you should also register with the Chicago Police Department, which updated its online registration this year. The odds aren't great in terms of getting back a stolen bike, but this can help.

Also, keep a copy of your bike's serial number for your records. You can usually find it stamped underneath the bottom bracket shell on your bike. Or you can ask your friendly neighborhood bike shop for help in locating it if you don't see it there. And take note of your specs, too: make, model, etc.

There are other, locally-specific resources available, too. Chicago isn't among the preeminent bike-friendly cities in the country (or even the most) just because we have decent infrastructure. The Chicago Stolen Bike Registry is an invaluable grassroots tool after you file a police report, if you are unlucky enough to suffer an unconscious uncoupling. Also, regardless of whether or not you've been victimized, get active in The Chainlink, where users look out for one another. And if you lose your bike, keep an eye out at big markets like Maxwell Street or Swap-O-Rama, where stolen rides infamously tend to show up. As the Reader explored in a great piece in 2014, the community looks out for one another, so join the community!

Nice little shout-out for The Chainlink!

Full article:

http://chicagoist.com/2017/05/24/a_few_handy_tips_for_keeping_your_...

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 12, 2017 at 5:03am

Another great tip is to have all your info printed on a card then laminate itand have it placed in your BB and one in your handlebar ends, Mine states that if the person who brought this bike in for service does not match the contact info on this card to call me, and the police

Permalink Reply by ad on June 12, 2017 at 6:01am

Great tip.  I write my name on the cloth rim tape on my wheels, and I also place my business card in my seat post for somewhat similar reasons. 

If I ever get in a situation where I need to prove the bike is mine, I can hopefully just pop out the seat post and show the authorities the business card.  

Permalink Reply by Michael A on June 12, 2017 at 6:09am

on most of my bikes I use that area for spare spokes, I push in a wine cork into the bottom of the seat post, and push a couple of each size spoke needed into that. Works great except for these

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