They have been doing construction on Lower Wacker and it is difficult to get into my building's bike room. For the last month or so I've been parking on the street instead. Two days ago I went out and pedaled home. When I went to lift my bike up the seat did not feel right, and when I looked, I saw that the metal under the seat was damaged. I thought it was a manufacturing defect, or maybe just that I'd worn it out, but when I looked at the metal I could see that it had been worked with some kind of tool. Someone had tried to pry it off, and probably gave up when they heard the metal snap. 

 

It was a leather seat, but not a fancy brooks model. So If you have a seat cover, it's probably best to use it. If you can park inside, do it! And if you work near the construction, be careful where you park. Some of the streets are now blocked off and less traveled - an easier place for a thief to go to work. 

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A small loop of old bicycle chain will easily deter a thief.  Some heat shrink tubing around where the chain contacts your seat rails and seat stays will help keep the saddle and frame unscratched.
Or a piece of a small innertube.
Yeah, after losing my seat in a high-traffic area, I now use a seat-leash.  While it won't prevent theft, I hope it will at least deter theft, or make the bike seat next to mine more attractive.
Last autumn someone tried to pry off my rear rack with a crowbar, to judge from the damage. I was parked at Michigan and Congress, which I later realized has about a thousand theft balloons when you click on the site on the Stolen Bike Registry's map. I have no idea what anyone intended to do with a rear rack that had been pried off with a crowbar. Is there really a Swap-a-Rama market for such a thing?

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