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How were they stolen?

Posted: 17 Nov 2010, 12:39pm
by horizon
While commiserating with the victims of the losses reported in ths section and keeping my eyes peeled, I am wondering whether posters could give brief details as to how the bike(s) were stolen. This would give the rest of us some idea as to what works and what doesn't and perhaps highlight any shortcomings in current security (assuming it doesn't help other perpertrators!). The quid pro quo for the posters is perhaps that we will take a greater interest in this section. Any thoughts?

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 17 Nov 2010, 3:10pm
by Neil Mc Ivor
MO added to post

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 17 Nov 2010, 8:25pm
by cycle carnot
Good point, well made. Details added to my post.

Thanks!

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 5 Jan 2011, 8:03pm
by bikercolin
Hi- Just for interests sake I had a Trek stolen a couple of years ago in Coventry, It was locked in a cycle parking area with a £40 Abus chain and pad lock. When I asked at the hairdressers opposite they informed me that workers in day glow waist coats had stopped and removed 4 bikes using bolt croppers and taken them away. Reported it to the police, to my knowledge they have never followed up the information. What chance have we if this goes on in broad day light?

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 5 Jan 2011, 8:49pm
by thirdcrank
bikercolin wrote:.... When I asked at the hairdressers opposite they informed me that workers in day glow waist coats had stopped and removed 4 bikes using bolt croppers and taken them away....


As a general point, I believe some local authorities remove bikes chained to street furniture, especially in so-called prime retail locations, and I've heard it said that people acting on behalf of the owners of property who do not want bikes chained to their fences etc do the same. Several years ago I was threatened by some sort of street warden in Leeds about what would happen to me if I completed chaining my bike to a lamp post outside the building society. He was unable to suggest a nearby official stand (I later found out there was one nearby) and so he very kindly agreed to guard it - unlocked - until I had completed my transaction. :evil:

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 7 Jan 2011, 4:37pm
by Edwards
TC I knew your old handcuffs would have been useful some day.

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 8 Jan 2011, 12:39pm
by irc
In a former job in Glasgow is used to see many of the crime reports for stolen bikes. The vast majority were either not locked or were stolen from common closes* or other places like underground car parks where the thief could work on the lock out of the view of the public. I can't remember more than a handful of locked bikes stolen from busy public places.

I'll qualify this with the fact that almost all the bikes I see locked in public places are low end or deliberately scruffy looking mid range. Don't expect to lock your high end MTB regulrly in the same place and keep it. I've never had a bike stolen. I park my Specialised Hardrock in Glasgow regularly with a cable lock.

* The close is the semi public common stairway giving access to 3 or 4 storey blocks of 6 to 12 flats. There is usualy a door off the street which may or may not have a door entry system. The door entry system fails either through bad fitting or residents not closing the outer door properly, or he service button which allows the postman access at certain times etc etc.

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 26 Jan 2011, 10:15am
by AMC
Using only a cable lock proved fatal for me - my bike was nicked from opposite a police station!

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 9 Feb 2011, 11:59am
by misterbenn
A cable lock proved fatel for me also. I thought it was tough enough with a 1cm diameter cable but simple cutters got through it in seconds. I'd say that if the bike is going to be left for more than 1 hour then a solid lock is a must! And for bikes left for over 4 hours i'd say two solid locks are a must, one for front wheel and one for frame/back wheel.

But even that isn't a sure thing...
When i lived in oxford my D-lock key broke in the lock mech - so my bike was stuck in a very public place in the middle of town (outside the central libary). In the end i paid a man to cut the lock off with a portable angle grinder during my lunch break (1pm monday, so very busy). To my suprise not one passing person questioned this at all!

I really think a small alarm system should be deviced for our lovely bikes!

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 16 Oct 2011, 10:03am
by lindley
Good point. Thief had cable cutters, as the lock was cut cleanly. Theft happened in broad daylight, on a busy thoroughfare; bike was in full view.

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 25 Oct 2011, 8:28pm
by zee
The rear wheel of my MTB just got stolen in London -- for the first time I had left my bike chained to a very busy station approach (cars one side, people on the other, constant traffic) for a couple more hours than expected, and there it went.. Before this I been chaining my bike daily (from 7am to 3pm) for a year or so on a side street just off the station approach with a single Trelock, only removing the saddle.

Looking at £100+ unless I find a second hand replacement.
Lesson learnt.

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 16 Dec 2011, 1:10pm
by daddig
I had Cannondale Bad Boy Stolen from locked reinforced Bike Shed , door torn off defeating the reinforcing but no one heard a thing .

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 7 Jan 2012, 9:54am
by The Jazz
I really think a small alarm system should be deviced for our lovely bikes


I have been giving bike security a bit of thought recently. My main concern is not so much while I am at a campsite, but when I stop to get provisions.

Now, several years ago, there was a bit of a drive by the neighbourhood watch to make locals more security concious. The upshot of this was that I bought a couple of door alarms from the community bobby.

These alarms are designed to be hung on a metal door handle. Once switched on, they form a contact. If the contact is broken, the alarm goes off.

The alarm is round - about the same circumference as a pint glass and about 4cm thick. It is attached to the door by an adjustable metal loop and powered by a 9v battery.

Ideal for putting on a bike frame (covered by a plastic bag to help conceal and weather proof it).

It appears to be ideal for additional security of the bike - the alarm is quite loud and works a treat - the only downside is that it can be turned off very easily - hence the need to conceal it.

If anyone would like more info on this alarm, I'll get the name and try and get a picture.

If I remember rightly, they cost me £5 each, including the battery.

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 4 Feb 2012, 7:45pm
by Graham
daddig wrote:I had Cannondale Bad Boy Stolen from locked reinforced Bike Shed , door torn off defeating the reinforcing but no one heard a thing .

This is of great interest to me. I have recently bought an Asgard Cycle store, thinking that my bikes and tools would be safe(r).

What reinforced bike shed do you have ( that was defeated )?

Re: How were they stolen?

Posted: 5 Feb 2012, 10:53am
by PDQ
I have a fantasy about leaving a top end machine somewhere vunerable with just normal (say Cable lock)security but discretely connected up to an electric fencer. The newer fencers are really compact and run for ages on a small battery! Install a camera overlooking and wait for the fun to start :twisted: