Some jerk keeps vandalizing my lights

What to do when some a-hole insists on stealing or otherwise messing with my lights?

I super glue every part that isn't required to replace the batteries as I want to not remove / replace them every time I park - over the past few weeks, some jerk is hell bent on messing with them. This has happened 3-4 times now and I'm kinda fed up with it. I was thinking of:

- slathering the (more often vandalized, rear) light with vaseline to send a message

- sticking a note on them saying "cut it out"

After $100 worth of lights being ruined in the past couple weeks, I need to do something. Alternatively, replacing them with something that is truly and properly theft resistant.

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Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on September 14, 2015 at 7:56am

FWIW, ever since I switched to dynamo lights, (5 months ago), I've had no issues w/ tampering or theft. (I'd previously lost several rear lights when I'd forgotten to remove them). I'm also curious about tamper-resistant lights such as these: http://fortifiedbike.com/products/aviator-afterburner-combo-pack.

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Permalink Reply by Brad Bauer on September 14, 2015 at 8:43am

Dynamo is a option, especially since I'm looking at a geared hub updated anyhow.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 14, 2015 at 11:32am

If you park your bike outside for extended periods of time you have to take your lights off, period.

Or, alternately, don't leave your bike out for extended periods of time.

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Permalink Reply by Joe on September 14, 2015 at 7:24pm

Back in the day they would hang horse thieves.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 14, 2015 at 11:57pm

Considering none of us ride horses I fail to see how that is relevant...

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Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on September 15, 2015 at 3:32am

Try clear tape to secure your light. You can use a razor to open when the batteries need to be replaced. White zip ties will also work. In either case a tool is needed to disassemble your light. This may be enough to keep the vandal from conveniently damaging your lights. Then again, it might not...

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Permalink Reply by Brad Bauer on September 15, 2015 at 3:33am

LIKE!

I think I'm going to order some clear zip ties and give that a go. They have only taken or vandalized the portions of the lights that could be manipulated by human hands.

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Permalink Reply by Maurice on September 15, 2015 at 6:40am

Commuter who locks up outside in the Loop. I used to remove my lights and take them with me, until one day somebody stole my mounting bracket. Just the mounting bracket. I guess he lifted a light from another bike and is searching for a bracket that fits it. Then I switched to the tape method, since I had no other way to mount the light.

I've been using bolt-on lights for the past couple of years with no issues. Anybody with an allen wrench can remove them in seconds, but nobody has tried.