The 2013 Chicago Bike Theft Year in Review

So it looks like there are still bike thieves in the City of Chicago and that bike owners are still determined to make it easy for them. We had a modest increase (5%) in reports to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry in 2013 after a whopping 42% increase from 2011 to 2012. The spreadsheet for the period of 2010 through 2013 is attached, but the numbers that stick out for me:

59% of thefts reported to the CSBR last year were of bikes which either weren’t locked (26.5%) or were locked with only some form of cable lock (32.6%).

Another 27.6% of reports to the CSBR were of bikes with a locking method identified as “Other.” The “Other” category has been a topic of discussion in past threads because this is sometimes an option selected by the victim and sometimes an option selected by the CSBR admins. Victims are asked to select "Other" when no lock was cut or broken to steal the bike, and admittedly, this fact is sometimes difficult to ascertain with any degree of certainty. The admin protocol is to make the change when the narrative makes it clear that a lock wasn't defeated to steal the bike. "Other" includes by way of example, bikes which were only locked to themselves (regardless of lock type); bikes which are locked only through the front wheel (regardless of lock type) and the bike is stolen by leaving the wheel locked to the rack and taking the rest; bikes which were locked (regardless of lock type) to a sucker pole, wooden or iron fence, and the object which it was locked to was obviously broken or defeated.

Only 4.4% of reports to the CSBR were of bikes locked to a bike rack with a newer U-Lock. It’s that easy to minimize your risk of being a theft victim.

Register your bike. Write down your serial number. Take a picture of your bike. Don’t lock your bike and leave it in a common area that other people can access. Don’t lock your bike with some form of cable lock as your only security device. Don’t lock your bike to a fence or a sucker pole. Don’t leave your unlocked bike in front of a store, on your back porch, in a garage or in a yard. Bike thieves can and do climb fences and stairs.

CSBR%202010-2013%20FINAL%201%2027%2014.pdf

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on February 1, 2014 at 11:06am

Well you and I certainly agree on a few things. We want everybody to lock their bike securely, which means at a minimum a  u lock. And I agree that people should be lock however they wish. If you want to carry a second chain lock had it.  

I didn't want the picture to be seen as "best practice" because I don't think that' what it shows As the data indicates single u locks very rarely result in bike loss.  Occasionally people lose wheels and seats but from what  I've read here - and my own experience - a simply chain defeats parts theft.  

One of the joys of riding for me is that it's much easier than driving when one thinks of parking, meters, etc.  Just get on the bike and ride. If I were to use two u locks every time I ride the carrying weight would go up and the hassle index would increase significantly.  In fact I only lock my second wheel if  I will be away from the bike for a while and the location is  dicey.  

Permalink Reply by El Dorado on February 1, 2014 at 2:51pm

I do find folks that park their bikes downtown usually lock up pretty good. The worst offenders are the college campus kids locking up with cables I could cut with strong scissors. Depaul campus in Linken Park always has cut cables blowing in the wind down the street.

Permalink Reply by John Farris on February 2, 2014 at 7:04am

May bike thieves never know a downhill coast.  I feel for everyone with a bike theft story; my son is one of you.  It just blows my mind that none of these front-of-building racks are monitored, ESPECIALLY on college campuses.  A city-dweller's bike is as important to him/her as a suburb-dweller's car, and the penalties for theft of either should be equally as harsh.  Of course, I'm venting to 'the choir', but they don't really have a website for bike thieves, do they?

J

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 10, 2014 at 1:05am

Kevin gets a broader audience here.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on February 10, 2014 at 11:14am

I need to remember to insist on editorial control. But on a positive note, the hyperlink to CSBR works in the online version. According to Google Analytics, traffic to the CSBR tripled yesterday, 2/9 when the article was posted. I don't know what today's numbers are yet for the Tribune re-print.

h' 1.0 said:

I think Kevin clearly did a great job of getting some key points across.

Somewhat regrettable that the author did not do a good job of making it clear that the data collected by the CSBR represents only a small sampling of what's going on out there, and was not more careful to frame the application of the data more accurately-- e.g.:

Conway's year-end report, compiled this week, showed that the spring and summer months are the most popular for bike theft, with roughly two-thirds of the year's total thefts taking place between May and September.

"Suggested" would have been a much better way to go.

Also of note-- she got the chainlink URL out there, but not the CSBR's....
 
Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Kevin gets a broader audience here.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on February 11, 2014 at 2:51am

Nice interview Kevin. A big thanks for everything you do.

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on August 14, 2014 at 7:05pm

This is nice....Abus 14KS chain cut to length.  So I can get less chain than the mini u-lock and chain kit from Abus or Kryptonite and potentially carry it around....right?

http://www.allpadlocks.com/ez-catalog/X380790/161/A14KS

Mini u-lock is the next purchase....

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