Tips on preventing your bike getting stolen
(for thechainlink.org) January 31, 2016


Hi, I'm writing this short article to provide some useful tips on How Not To Get Your Bike Stolen In the City. I've been and avid biker for......pretty much when I first learned how to ride. I've been a road city biker (ride on the street) for about 16 years. Yep, and I've had several bikes stolen from me over those years. The stupidest mistake I've ever made was leaving my keys in the grass by accident, and coming back to find an empty post.

As cities become more populated and under the system of capitalismo we live under, thief's are always trying to make a quick buck. If you find some haggered looking person on Western ave trying to sell you a bike on the sidewalk, and is even willing to come down on his first or second offer. More than likely, its stolen. This happens quit often. I've even heard rumors of profession bike thief's who drive around in vans with a bunch of tools and will quickly take parts off the frame or cut the lock and throw it in the van and escape! These bikes would quickly be moved to used markets to other cities were they can make a small profit off this business.

Ok, we all know, if it looks nice and its free standing on a pole somewhere in a busy street. Somebody else has their eye on it and wants to take it. This is very unfair and selfish in a sense, because that person probably worked hard to earn that frame as a 99%er. Its probably that persons only means of transportation and it would hurt his/her life to try and replace it. Also, if you see a bike being sold online, make sure its not stolen first! Don't just buy off instinct and price. I'm sure people are always coming down on used bikes that they want to get rid of, but do your homework first. I've had about two bikes stolen in the last two years, so thats like a bike a year at this rate. And I'm down in the hole.

Ok, on to offering some simple useful tips to prevent your bike from being stolen in the first place.


1.) Make sure its locked.

Obviously, make sure your bike is locked with a sturdy lock. U-lock or one of those heavy duty chains. Its often easy to leave your bike unattended if your only going to be in a place for like a minute or two. Wrong! This is the most often way bikes get stolen. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, the thief is on your bike and gone. And the thing about sturdy looking locks is that the cheap ones you get from Kmart are easily cut or snapped. Even the imitation kyptonite ones like master, have such a light locking mechanism that it can be snapped with a metal bar wedged between it. I think the really old Kryptonite locks used to be able to be picked with a ballpoint pen. Make sure its a Krypotonite 'series 2' edition at least.  Abus makes a really good lock, OnGuard, Giant. Only buy a legit bike lock from an authorized bike dealer, usually a trusted local bike shop. 

Try to lock the bike to something thats strong, a metal pole for instance. Don't lock it to a fence lattice or something fragile (because these can easily be cut). Also, double check the pole you lock it to, to make sure it can't be removed. This is the sucker pole. There have been several city poles in the city with their bolts removed that someone watches across the street. IF you find one of these. Don't just report it. Take it in your own hands to completely removed the pole and discard it somewhere. It will prevent someones bike in the future from being stolen. If the city hasn't replaced it yet, than having it missing will get them to act faster!

Remember to always lock if you are more than a foot from your bike. Even in a relatively safe area, or if your going into a building for like a second. Just at least lock the frame to itself. This will make it impossible for someone to simple ride off with your bike and you could usually find the thief trying to carry off your bike down the street.

If you only have one lock, the best locking pattern is to remove both wheels and lock the frame and wheel together. Carry two locks to be safer. Also, secure the seat or remove it. Remove any lights as well. And remember to lock through the frame, never just the wheel.


2.) Take your bike inside rather than leaving it out on the street.

Even in nice areas, thief's have been known to jump fences and steal bikes from peoples backyards. If you are going in to some place, try to bring the bike in with you. Never leave your bike on the street overnight (if you can avoid it). Ask your friend or the person who works there if its ok to bring it in. Also, be weary leaving your bike in hallways as well. I've known people who've gotten their bikes stolen from locked apartment complexes. The best method is to sleep with your bike locked to your leg or ankle (maybe like in a punk haus somewhere). That way, if someone tries to move your bike, you'll be woken.

3.) Register bike

There are several bike registry sites online: Thebikeindex.org ; chicago stolen bike registry ; bikeshepherd.org. The Chicago police have a bike registry program as were you can fill out a little card. But I don't think they even save these are enter it into the system. So its basically useless, besides getting your carbon copy record for yourself. Of course, having your bike registered somewhere will give you more validation if you find it. But, remember that DIY bike registry is more vital. Take a clean pic of your bike every couple of months. Record the serial number (usually located on the underside of the bottom bracket shell of the frame). Record the model and type, the components, year, current seat, any accessories like fenders or racks. Pretty much everything about the bike. Keep that record safe somewhere and updated. Make sure also you put a small index card inside your handlebars with your identification. Make sure your friends and coworkers generally recognize your bike. This could be a first defense in corroborating your claim. Having witnesses.

4.) Watch your area

Keep a good look out for what area your in. If there are a lot of shady people on the street lurking around, don't lock up there. Try to take the bike in with you, or keep a good look out on it. Its a good ideal to lock up. Go inside the store, and come right back out a couple of times to check to see if anyones working on your bike. Do this a few times. If your chilling at your dude or dudettes crib, and your bikes locked to a pole, go outside a couple of times to check your bike. Or if your at a party. Keep your mind on it. Make sure you have your phone charged and on to call the police. Its often a good ideal to already have your phone in your hand when you come out to check your bike. This wards off thief's right away. The last thing a thief wants to be put in place tableau, is to be reported to the police running down the street with a stolen bike. Now I'm not a rassismus, but it is a commonly held belief that minorities are more likely to steal because of more harsh economic conditions (getting even doesn't mean stealing from other poor people). As opposed to, “maybe” a white male who in likely to hold higher positions with better pay. Be suspicious of all people. Lol, even if their wearing a suit and tie in sheep's clothing. Even sometimes supposed friends could try and steal your bicycle. I remember I caught dude from the local tall bike gang. He knew it was my bike, I knew him, we hung out at parties. I was in the bar, I happen to come out and saw him with a wrench on my new fuji fix gear. He sees me walking out and goes O >>, then gets on his bike and rides off.


5.) What to do if you witness your bike being stolen

Scream at them and announce thats its your bike. Have your phone ready, record it. Call police first thing to get them on the move about the incident. It could be they would likely get the 10-4, and be down the street eating fried chicken at Popeyes and won't get to the report until 20 mins later. If a thief refuses to give your bike back and denies it; now I don't condone the use of violence. Personally, I had to forcibly grab my seat back from some homeless looking dude who had just taken it off my bike in front of the local library. I figure thats fair, to grab it back since it didn't belong to him in the first place. A thief usually wouldn't pursue that since he/she was taking a chance anyway and its not a personal loss (he just didn't get away with it this time). Whatever he's claiming, just make sure you get your bike physically back in your hands first. Now, be careful about a situation like this. You could actual be charged with assault if you catch a bike thief running off with your property and you attack him. Sometimes the only thing you can do is report it and film the incident. But defiantly call the police right away and report it

6.) New Technologies

Recently there have been some new technologies like Sherlock and Spybike which will put a GPS somewhere like inside the seat tube or a component. The location of the bike can be tracked with a phone or computer. I think Divy uses these in all their bikes as well as police bikes. Might be a good investment to find out where it was moved to. Keep the battery replaced and don't put a pipe bomb inside your bike.

7) Don't let people you don't know ride your bike

If someone on the street ask can they ride your bike. Ignore them. If someone in town needs to borrow a bike, make sure you know the person who knows that person well and try to meet him/her.

8.) Trains and Transporting

There have been several reports of people getting their bikes stolen off METRA trains. Keep it locked if your traveling as someone could just pull it off at the next stop while you seat. If your on a bus, sacrifice your trip to run after him and call the police. Always keep it locked, even on Amtrak. Travel bus's will let you box it up and take it under sometimes. Haven't had any problem here, but your wheel will likely get banged up if not in a box.


I tried to cover the basics in 8 simple tips. Though, remember that even the best efforts at locking can't prevent your bike from being stolen. Most of the time, people on the street will just watch as someone with an angle grinder is cutting through a lock. And there is no real sure way to secure all components on a bike since all those goodies are still exposed! The most important factor to take out of this article, is just keep it nearby. If you really care about your bike, you wouldn't just leave it overnight somewhere and hope thats it still there a few days later. Bikes are more or less personal objects and shouldn't be stolen if it doesn't belong to them. Maybe are society would eventually become likes some countries where you don't even have to lock your bike as no one will even touch it if it doesn't belong to them. But that day is far, far away. And stealing someones bike is a big, big deal. The general ideal held by the car touting masses is that is not, and thats its just a bike. They are far from right.

~ Cozmo