Stolen Bike Registry - do this when your bike gets stolen

"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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 10, 2014 at 11:23pm
Those were in a mailed package? If so, that's a while other kettle of fish (federal crime). Contact the post office.
Permalink Reply by KrisP on January 23, 2015 at 9:23am

Our locked garage (in Ukrainian Village) was broken into and my commuter bike, a Felt Brougham single speed, was stolen.  I didn't have the bike secured inside the locked garage, only hanging the wall at the front of the garage.  I have taken steps to secure and lock our other bikes (which the thief/thieves gratefully left behind).  It appears that entry was gained by accessing the emergency release on the overhead garage door.

Would be great if I were able to tell a story about a reunion between me and my stolen bike.   I rebuilt this one from the frame up and I miss it like a missing appendage.  It's a 61 cm frame, so anyone less than 6 foot tall is going to have a hard time enjoying the ride.

I have filed a police report, posted details to chicago.stolenbike.org and have emailed and/or stopped into my local bike shops.

Link to the report from chicago.stolenbike.org copied below.

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/196144.org

Details:  2012 Felt Brougham. 61 cm frame. All black frame with chrome Felt headbadge. 28 x 700 Vittoria Randonneur Tires. Black 700 cc deep-v rims, 32-spoke front with black spokes, hand built 48-spoke rear rim with silver spokes. Surly single/single hub. 17 tooth cog. Black Shimano A530 SPD Pedals. Bullhorn handlebars wrapped with black cork bar tape. Tektro RL720 cross brake levers. Black leather saddle with a scuff/tear on the right side. SKS fender on rear. Knog frog front/rear lights.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 23, 2015 at 10:24am

You should write down and/or photograph the serial numbers of the bikes which remain in your possession for safekeeping.



Kris Hesidenz said:

[snip]  I have taken steps to secure and lock our other bikes (which the thief/thieves gratefully left behind). snip]

I have filed a police report, posted details to chicago.stolenbike.org and have emailed and/or stopped into my local bike shops.

Permalink Reply by KrisP on January 23, 2015 at 10:37am
Thanks for the suggestion Kevin. I have taken photos of the bikes and serial numbers.

What are your thoughts on creating a unique identifier and inserting into the seat post or handlebar? I'm thinking of writing a unique word or phrase on waterproof paper so that I could positively identify the bike to police/others. Is that type of thing too widely done and known by bike thieves to be effective?
Permalink Reply by Michael A on January 23, 2015 at 10:40am

I try to keep a plastic laminated business card with a note on the back in the bottom bracket shell asking to please ask for ID if the bike is in for service. If the it is not me please call me or the police 

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 23, 2015 at 11:43am

I like the idea, and I do it. I have a business card in the handlebar of my bikes. I have written down and photographed my serial numbers. I have photographs of my bikes. I never leave an unlocked bike in a garage or basement or storage area where other people have access to it. (Breaking and entering into a living unit is a more serious offense than breaking and entering into a garage or basement or storage area). If I freelock (aka hobble) my bike because I'm just running into a place for "a minute," I treat the bike like it's not locked; i.e. I keep eyes on it. I almost never lock to a sign post. I almost always lock to a bike rack. I have no expectation that a busy street offers me any measure of protection from bike thieves. When I lock my bike for any length of time (> 1 hour), I use two u-locks, or a u-lock and a heavy duty security chain. On my commuter/daily rider, I have filled the hex nuts on my handlebars, headset, saddle and seat post with epoxy. And I'm one of the administrators of the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry (4 years, 4 months).

Kris Hesidenz said:

Thanks for the suggestion Kevin. I have taken photos of the bikes and serial numbers.

What are your thoughts on creating a unique identifier and inserting into the seat post or handlebar? I'm thinking of writing a unique word or phrase on waterproof paper so that I could positively identify the bike to police/others. Is that type of thing too widely done and known by bike thieves to be effective?
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on January 23, 2015 at 11:55am

I have written in Sharpie all around the rim-tape inside the rims on my bikes in large visible letters:  THIS BIKE IS STOLEN!  PLEASE CALL (my phone number)

If my bike is ever in an LBS getting a flat fixed it will be because it has been stolen. 

Maybe if a bike I own ever gets stolen I'll get a call from an observant LBS mechanic who sees it and calls the number someday.  If I had to positively ID my bike it'd be a simple matter of taking a tire off and looking at the rim tape and calling the number which would ring through to my cell phone.  I also have a complete listing of every single component part, accessory and complete build-out of my bikes with a description/model/color/Serial# on all of my bikes in a file on Google Drive.  I have this info as well as a photo of the bike registered with BikeRegistry.com which is a handy free service. 

Permalink Reply by KrisP on January 25, 2015 at 9:10am
Thanks for the feedback and ideas. We have increased our garage security measures and will be locking our bikes while in the garage. Will also be taking some of your suggestions regarding creating additional ways of bike identification.

I think we are also going to look at adding a rider to our insurance policy that is specific to our bikes.
Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on March 22, 2015 at 4:04am

I'd like to see the Mayoral candidates address the problem of bike thefts. I have had so many stolen, and try not to become attached to a bike. The police offer very little support for people who have found their bikes on Craigslist and risk harm by arranging to "buy" it. Shame

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on March 22, 2015 at 11:35am
Do the neodymium magnets just slow down thieves? How do you get them out? Where do you find the very small ones I presume you need to drop into Allen key fittings?
Permalink Reply by Fatimah Mustafaa on April 2, 2015 at 1:36am

I agree.  Maybe we can rally together to pass a law here that at open markets you have to register with the city to do bike sales. So that they can't sell stolen bikes.

Permalink Reply by Kris Hendry on March 22, 2015 at 5:18pm

If my bike ever gets stolen I will not have the silly notion that the Chicago Police will care. They are simply overrun with crime and like it or not, a bike is a bike. I take proper precautions with a NYC Kryptonite U-lock and a Abus whip.

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