"With all the stolen bike posts lately (and no one thinking "I wonder if there's something under Useful Links for this."), I think it's well past time to make a sticky about the Stolen Bike Registry"
- Tank-Ridin' Ryan
Well said Ryan.
http://chicago.stolenbike.org/
Done and done.
And sticky too.
Cheers - Lee Diamond
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I should think the first thing a clever thief would do is grind off the serial number from the frame, so even having a receipt in hand may not prove anything. That being said, you could put your business card in little plastic zip bags, roll them up and hide them inside the handlebars, seat tube, bottom bracket, glue to the bottom of the seat, put one anywhere you can stick a card--even if the thief found one and removed it, the others would still prove your ownership. Engrave your name on the handlebars and frame--I know, the thief could grind those off too, but a big paintless spot on the frame might make the bike harder for the thief to fence.
Anyone know of any downsides to this strategy?
Kelvin Mulcky said:
Is having pictures, serial numbers, and a stolen bike registry post good enough?
I should think the first thing a clever thief would do is grind off the serial number from the frame, so even holding a receipt in hand may not prove anything. That being said, you could put your business card in little plastic zip bags, roll them up and hide them inside the handlebars, seat tube, bottom bracket, glue to the bottom of the seat, put one anywhere you can stick a card--even if the thief found one and removed it, the others would still prove your ownership. Engrave your name on the handlebars and frame--I know, the thief could grind those off too, but a big paintless spot on the frame might make the bike harder for the thief to fence.
Anyone know of any downsides to this strategy?
Kelvin Mulcky said:Is having pictures, serial numbers, and a stolen bike registry post good enough?
I write my name or my wife's name with a sharpie on the cloth rim strips of both wheels on our respective bikes.
I should think the first thing a clever thief would do is grind off the serial number from the frame, so even having a receipt in hand may not prove anything. That being said, you could put your business card in little plastic zip bags, roll them up and hide them inside the handlebars, seat tube, bottom bracket, glue to the bottom of the seat, put one anywhere you can stick a card--even if the thief found one and removed it, the others would still prove your ownership. Engrave your name on the handlebars and frame--I know, the thief could grind those off too, but a big paintless spot on the frame might make the bike harder for the thief to fence.
Anyone know of any downsides to this strategy?
Kelvin Mulcky said:Is having pictures, serial numbers, and a stolen bike registry post good enough?
Obliterating the serial number is actually very rare in my experience (in fact I have never come across an obliterated serial number personally.) It's a little like using freon to shatter a U-lock-- widely discussed but doesn't seem to be a widespread practice.
Your other ideas are sound-- no downside.
More valuable-- getting owners to register their bikes or at least record their serial numbers.
Very few do.
Thunder Snow said:
I should think the first thing a clever thief would do is grind off the serial number from the frame, so even having a receipt in hand may not prove anything. That being said, you could put your business card in little plastic zip bags, roll them up and hide them inside the handlebars, seat tube, bottom bracket, glue to the bottom of the seat, put one anywhere you can stick a card--even if the thief found one and removed it, the others would still prove your ownership. Engrave your name on the handlebars and frame--I know, the thief could grind those off too, but a big paintless spot on the frame might make the bike harder for the thief to fence.
Anyone know of any downsides to this strategy?
Kelvin Mulcky said:Is having pictures, serial numbers, and a stolen bike registry post good enough?
Good to know, h'. Luckily for us, most thieves aren't very clever or enterprising enough to make recovery any harder.
h' said:
Obliterating the serial number is actually very rare in my experience (in fact I have never come across an obliterated serial number personally.)
Agree that there is no downside to having a method of identifying yourself as the owner of your bike. Don't tell anyone, but I employ the Mr. Bike method of hiding a business card inside my handlebars.
With respect to any attempts by thieves to alter the appearance of the bike, my experience is that it very rarely ever happens. Bikes were recovered last year at the Swipe-O-Rama that had all the same accessories still affixed, including one which had a saddle bag still attached containing the victim's prescription asthma inhaler (with prescription label still attached).
Elliott's experience is the norm not the exception.
h' said:
Obliterating the serial number is actually very rare in my experience (in fact I have never come across an obliterated serial number personally.) It's a little like using freon to shatter a U-lock-- widely discussed but doesn't seem to be a widespread practice.
Your other ideas are sound-- no downside.
More valuable-- getting owners to register their bikes or at least record their serial numbers.
Very few do.
Thunder Snow said:I should think the first thing a clever thief would do is grind off the serial number from the frame, so even having a receipt in hand may not prove anything. That being said, you could put your business card in little plastic zip bags, roll them up and hide them inside the handlebars, seat tube, bottom bracket, glue to the bottom of the seat, put one anywhere you can stick a card--even if the thief found one and removed it, the others would still prove your ownership. Engrave your name on the handlebars and frame--I know, the thief could grind those off too, but a big paintless spot on the frame might make the bike harder for the thief to fence.
Anyone know of any downsides to this strategy?
Kelvin Mulcky said:Is having pictures, serial numbers, and a stolen bike registry post good enough?
Not to be a drag or anything, and believe me, I like a good recovery story as much as the next guy, but I just approved the seventh entry to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry today! Five of them were locked with cable locks, one was locked to an object which was cut, one wasn't locked.
Write down your serial number, take a picture of your bike, lock it with a decent lock to a secure object.
Also, who on here is the owner/admin of the CSBR?
I think you/we should print business cards and distribute to local bike shops to hand to people when they buy a bike that prompt the following:
Any other suggestions or ideas?
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