Stolen Bikes Thread - Mod Note please read post #1 before posting

CramCycle · 11-07-2013 2:41pm

MOD VOICE: Read the 1st post, the next person to blame or verbally insult the Gardai will get a ban. If that's what you want to discuss, start another thread about it. Posts have already been deleted.

aloyisious · 13-07-2013 9:30am

Anyone want a replacement (mountain bike) for their stolen cycle, some gent named Max has put up posters (of bike he's selling) between Grafton St and O'Connell Bridge with photo of same

MB Lacey · 17-07-2013 3:49pm

Just seen this in Broadsheet

They're using angle grinders on locks in Dublin City Centre:

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/07/17/five-stolen-in-the-last-half-hour/

David Burke writes:
My bike (above) was robbed this morning between 10.20am and 10.45am outside the Westin Hotel on Westmoreland Street [Dublin]. An eyewitness saw a guy with an angle grinder cut through the kryptonite lock. A bystander approached and was threatened to back off…. I reported it at Pearse St Garda Station but the feedback was that “5 bikes have been stolen in the last half-hour”.
It also seems that a person fitting the description supplied was spotted stealing bikes in various parts of the city including Castle Street. The guards suggested that I reach out to my insurance company.

aloyisious · 17-07-2013 5:59pm

MB Lacey wrote: »

Just seen this in Broadsheet

They're using axlegrinders on locks in Dublin City Centre:

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/07/17/five-stolen-in-the-last-half-hour/

Traffic CCTV in these areas might be useful, plus any cameras that the hotel might have outside it's premises. I assume from the angle-grinder he's either with a van (Reg No, make etc) or has a bag for the grinder (coming equipped for a theft).

ChainWhip · 20-07-2013 10:42pm

Posting this on behalf of a friend.

White Trek 1.5 stolen from Drury Street car park at 3pm today, Sat 20/7/2013. Kryptonite cable lock snipped and taken.

I have a picture of the alleged thief but will not post for legal reasons.

NB: The Security guard confirmed the culprit is a repeat offender.
He visits the Drury St. car park during weekdays wearing a suit, parks a bike, lifts one that looks good, and a companion comes soon after to take his bike.
He was recently seen on CCTV exiting with a TT helmet so as not to raise suspicion on the TT bike he had just taken.
A German tourist staying in the nearby hotel also recently had his €2k+ road bike taken

Picture of bike taken earlier today:
Len+bike.jpg

yosser hughes · 20-07-2013 10:53pm

ChainWhip wrote: »

Posting this on behalf of a friend.

White Trek 1.5 stolen from Drury Street car park at 3pm today, Sat 20/7/2013. Kryptonite cable lock snipped and taken.

I have a picture of the alleged thief but will not post for legal reasons.

NB: The Security guard confirmed the culprit is a repeat offender.
He visits the Drury St. car park during weekdays wearing a suit, parks a bike, lifts one that looks good, and a companion comes soon after to take his bike.
He was recently seen on CCTV exiting with a TT helmet so as not to raise suspicion on the TT bike he had just taken.
A German tourist staying in the nearby hotel also recently had his €2k+ road bike taken

Have the security in Drury street reported this person to the guards? Why,if they know who this guy is have they not prevented him from doing it again?
Does anyone care about bike theft in Dublin/Ireland?Really Can anyone tell me; is there a blind eye policy or what?

Qualitymark · 21-07-2013 8:01am

yosser hughes wrote: »

Does anyone care about bike theft in Dublin/Ireland?Really Can anyone tell me; is there a blind eye policy or what?

There will be a blind eye policy until cyclists get together and run a campaign to stop it. When we cycle back and forth continuously from Dáil and Government Buildings when the government is in session (and the IMF are staying in the Merrion Hotel, opposite Government Buildings. When we have cycling demos from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dáil, when we put posters of people stealing bicycles up where they've been stolen, asking "What have the Gardaí done about this?", when we go en masse to local pubs and buy a soda water each, and request that they show the video of bicycles being shown locally on their pub TV, when we print out all the stolen bicycle reports from this page, cycle to the Dáil and (having called a press conference) present it to the Minister for Justice - and so on.

We can't expect action until we act ourselves.

yosser hughes · 21-07-2013 8:12am

Qualitymark wrote: »

There will be a blind eye policy until cyclists get together and run a campaign to stop it. When we cycle back and forth continuously from Dáil and Government Buildings when the government is in session (and the IMF are staying in the Merrion Hotel, opposite Government Buildings. When we have cycling demos from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dáil, when we put posters of people stealing bicycles up where they've been stolen, asking "What have the Gardaí done about this?", when we go en masse to local pubs and buy a soda water each, and request that they show the video of bicycles being shown locally on their pub TV, when we print out all the stolen bicycle reports from this page, cycle to the Dáil and (having called a press conference) present it to the Minister for Justice - and so on.

We can't expect action until we act ourselves.

All fair points. However if crimes are being committed why does there appear to be nothing done? Why should it take the action you describe, to get those in positions of authority and enforcement to simply do their jobs?
But yes, I agree that cyclists need to get more organised and make this an issue and to bring it to the fore.

Squidgy Black · 21-07-2013 9:17am

yosser hughes wrote: »

Have the security in Drury street reported this person to the guards? Why,if they know who this guy is have they not prevented him from doing it again?
Does anyone care about bike theft in Dublin/Ireland?Really Can anyone tell me; is there a blind eye policy or what?

Between wage cuts and stations being closed/reduced hours, the Gardai don't have the man power to deal with smaller crimes like bike theft.

You need to remember that unfortunately bike theft is one of many crimes that are being committed in Dublin, the number of stabbings, shootings and assaults etc are on the rise

Unfortunately they seem to have the same attitude to car theft as they have to bike theft, we've had cars robbed from outside the house a couple of times and you get the usual "we'll see what we can do," and then you never hear anything again.

aloyisious · 21-07-2013 11:41am

I talked to Drury St Security when my bike was stolen there and was told by them that the Gardai said the recording did NOT provide a good enough image of the alleged thief to get a conviction in previous theft cases there. I don't know if the was a good image of the thief who stole my bike. The trick is to catch the thief in the act of cutting open a lock on a bike he/she doesn't own.

The thief always leaves the park when challenged. You'd need to detain him (with provable good cause) for proper I/D to get a court order baring him/them from the car-park. As it is, due to the notice from the car-park owners telling you that you park your bike there at your own risk, I don't see any S/O working there on his own actually getting physically "in his face" with thieves and trying to detain one for the Gardai.

Qualitymark · 21-07-2013 3:40pm

stetyrrell wrote: »

Between wage cuts and stations being closed/reduced hours, the Gardai don't have the man power to deal with smaller crimes like bike theft.

Bike theft isn't a small crime. It's thousands and thousands of euro worth of property stolen every day.

Surveyor11 · 21-07-2013 5:36pm

Qualitymark wrote: »

Bike theft isn't a small crime. It's thousands and thousands of euro worth of property stolen every day.

Agreed, but I have to sy I was a bit underwhelmed when I reported my stolen bike to the guards in Blanchardstown. The report was taken on a scrap of paper that the guard tore off a piece of paper that was hanging around the desk, that sort of said it for me.:(

aloyisious · 21-07-2013 10:33pm

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Agreed, but I have to sy I was a bit underwhelmed when I reported my stolen bike to the guards in Blanchardstown. The report was taken on a scrap of paper that the guard tore off a piece of paper that was hanging around the desk, that sort of said it for me.:(

Umm, when I reported the theft to Pearse St, a form was completed by myself and the Desk Garda, he entered the details on PULSE, signed the form and gave it to me. I also got a follow-up posted-letter from Pearse St Gardai (on behalf of the Supt) about my bike-theft with an info sheet on Nat and local victim support groups.

lecker Hendl · 22-07-2013 1:57pm

This has to be one the most frustrating threads to read on boards. Every day there's a new update with a stolen bike. Boils my blood. Traps need to be set up to entice thieves.

aloyisious · 23-07-2013 8:02am

I was thinking that one way out of the problem would be for a cage to be built around the bike park with the door-key kept by security in their office and given out on request. That way the thief (known or otherwise) would not be able to breeze-in so easily and steal bikes. He could be refused access to the cage, with access to it's key only through security. I know the result could a slow-down in genuine cycle-owners accessing their bikes but.... it's just a thought I had. Part of the bike park could be left uncaged with cycle owners taking the option of better or lesser security for their cycle at choice.

Edit: Just seen this on another site, reposted there from broadsheet:

Drury Tampering
3:19 pm July 22, 2013 Bodger

Drury Street Bike Park, Dublin.

Stephen Rodgers writes:

Just a little note of warning to anyone using Drury Street Bike Car Park.. I just witnessed a guy with a bolt cutters trying to get the lock off a bike at lunch time today. Luckily he was disturbed and ran away. Worth noting though that They obviously have their eye on the place.

Mr.Fred · 23-07-2013 9:37am

aloyisious wrote: »

I was thinking that one way out of the problem would be for a cage to be built around the bike park with the door-key kept by security in their office and given out on request. That way the thief (known or otherwise) would not be able to breeze-in so easily and steal bikes. He could be refused access to the cage, with access to it's key only through security. I know the result could a slow-down in genuine cycle-owners accessing their bikes but.... it's just a thought I had. Part of the bike park could be left uncaged with cycle owners taking the option of better or lesser security for their cycle at choice.

Edit: Just seen this on another site, reposted there from broadsheet:

Drury Tampering
3:19 pm July 22, 2013 Bodger

Drury Street Bike Park, Dublin.

Stephen Rodgers writes:

Just a little note of warning to anyone using Drury Street Bike Car Park.. I just witnessed a guy with a bolt cutters trying to get the lock off a bike at lunch time today. Luckily he was disturbed and ran away. Worth noting though that They obviously have their eye on the place.

As an add on to that why not put a small indiscreet barcode or QR code on your bike and have it scanned on exit which would bring up a picture of the owner on security guards screen.

There'd be no way of any bikes being removed from this bike park then if the security was doing it's job correctly.

It may even be possible to make it automated in that the bike has it's code attached and owner has a gate release code on him (card/keyfob) so once you scan your bike you have to have your gate release to exit both working together or not at all.

I'll leave someone with the know how and time market this just leave me 10%

aloyisious · 23-07-2013 12:29pm

An answer to the Drury St Car-park theft problem might be through DublinCityCycling.ie. It's a cycling site set up by Dublin City Council, the same people who fund the bike park in Drury St. An email campaign (polite) to DCC pointing out that the park is being targetted by bike thieves and asking them to review anti-theft methods employed there. A similar campaign could be used to inform the Car-park Co of how the cyclists feel about the problem. I'm sure they are well aware of it. I'm thinking of something like this message -- (There have been a lot of thefts, and attempted thefts, of bikes from the bike park at the A/M car-park lately. There are threads on Boards.ie "stolen bikes thread" and on Broadsheet "Drury tampering" about the theft-problem there and how cyclists are being affected. Is it possible for a meeting with the DC.Council staff and the DCcycling group to address what's becoming a major crime problem at Drury St. Your's)

Edit: One thing I am now having a problem with are the regulars sitting outside the park pedestrian doorway. They are in a very good position to see who's going in and out with cycles, inclusive of thieves.

RunRoryRun · 23-07-2013 12:44pm

aloyisious wrote: »

One thing I am now having a problem with are the regulars sitting outside the park pedestrian doorway. They are in a very good position to see who's going in and out with cycles, inclusive of thieves.

Now forgive me if I'm reading this incorrectly, but I don't think that I am.....are you suggesting we empower that homeless fella that sits there pan-handling 24/7 to act as a security guard for our bikes?

If so, that's a whopper idea.

Zyzz · 23-07-2013 1:22pm

Never used the Drury St bike park but has anyone invested in an alarmed bike lock? So if a thief tries to get break the lock/locks on your bike it'll bring attention to the security guard on duty?

aloyisious · 23-07-2013 4:06pm

RunRoryRun wrote: »

Now forgive me if I'm reading this incorrectly, but I don't think that I am.....are you suggesting we empower that homeless fella that sits there pan-handling 24/7 to act as a security guard for our bikes?

If so, that's a whopper idea.

:eek: Eh no, not that, rather the reverse.

Spring · 24-07-2013 1:26pm

Stolen: Specialized Sirrus Expert (white)

my bike was stolen from Gilford Road Sandymount two weeks ago. white with carbon front forks and carbon seat stays (black), full 105, needs a good cleaning but in v good original condition. If anyone is offered a bike like this, or hears of someone offered a bike like this please do let me know - i will recognise and identify it. Cost EUR1,000 on bike to work scheme - reward offered ...

Thanks for any help, or links.

yosser hughes · 24-07-2013 8:37pm

stetyrrell wrote: »

Between wage cuts and stations being closed/reduced hours, the Gardai don't have the man power to deal with smaller crimes like bike theft.

.

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Agreed, but I have to sy I was a bit underwhelmed when I reported my stolen bike to the guards in Blanchardstown. The report was taken on a scrap of paper that the guard tore off a piece of paper that was hanging around the desk, that sort of said it for me.:(

Which is it then? city centre garda stations have not been closed. there should be MORe garda on the beat anyway because of station closures.
You say one thing but then what you describe as your personal experience is just unprofessional.
cuts have nothing to do with it. we have one of the best paid police forces in the world.

eladnova · 25-07-2013 12:52pm

Had a bike stolen (Black Giant) from Luas stop at Stephen's Green last week. Really gutted. Broad daylight too.

We reported it to Pearse St station who were very helpful and gave us a Crime Reference Number from PULSE etc but I'm not holding out for seeing it again.
They said they'd check CCTV but these guys "normally have their hoods up".

The thing is, until this happened to us, I was convinced it happened maybe occasionally. A casual browse around the forums and this stolen bike lark seems to be a major organised crime affecting people every day. And they're just the ones that popup on forums.

People like you and me who are just trying to get to work and do a hard days slog are being robbed by scumbags who do this for a "living".

Qualitymark · 25-07-2013 4:33pm

eladnova wrote: »

People like you and me who are just trying to get to work and do a hard days slog are being robbed by scumbags who do this for a "living".

And as long as it's a lucrative living, the robberies will continue. Very sorry for your loss.

grodge · 27-07-2013 1:22pm

Hi everyone,

I had a bike stolen from South King Street (where the Gaiety Theatre is) in Dublin on Friday. I want to post this to make people extra aware of how brazen bike thieves are.

The thief was spotted by a store owner cutting the lock with an angle grinder. By her accounts it took about 20 seconds to cut the lock off and cycle off. The lock was a Gold rated ABUS lock and it was around the wheel and frame of the bike.

It happened at 3.25pm and the street was really busy. The bike was locked up on a row or stands with about 10 other bikes. Beware where you lock your bike and try to keep it in sight of where you are. I was in the St. Stephens Green shopping centre for 20 mins and it was gone when I got back!

The Gardai were very helpful and came and took a statement. They said they are getting at least 3 reports a day from theft in the City.

I'm going to post a picture of the bike as well, if you notice it on any ad's online can you let me know so I can call the Gardai. (Raleigh SF 3.0)

Thanks and be safe

Planet X · 27-07-2013 5:21pm

Sorry to hear that.

.......so......two Gold standard U locks about 40 seconds then....
What's the point?

grodge · 27-07-2013 5:34pm

I spoke to some guys in a used bike yard on capel street. They said that <snip> cut two locks an stole two bikes from the stands opposite Cineworld on Parnell st Dublin. Used an angle grinder.

Someone approached him and he said that he worked for Dublin City Council and was removing bikes. Wheeled them into an old white van parked across the road.

It's the same description and method as the thief that stole my bike. He was spotted by a shop owner who seen him cut the lock and cycle away, <snip>.

I emailed this to the Garda that I met yesterday so hopefully it will be taken seriously as this guy is going around town in broad daylight stealing thousands of euro with of bikes.

Spread the word about this person. If he's not caught more bikes WILL be stolen. Thanks

Beasty · 27-07-2013 8:21pm

Description of individual removed - that's for the Guards to publicise if they consider appropriate - do not post details on Boards

exister78 · 28-07-2013 2:06am

Hi everyone,
I've just had my bike stolen from leeson street. It's a black Viking Fixie with distinctive white saddle and white rims on the tyres...just like the pic below.

It seems to be an awful problem in Dublin at the moment...this is not my 1st stolen bike and probably won't be the last, many friends have had the same trouble...seems even busy places during the day aren't even safe.

Anyway if anyone can help in any way...sees it for sale etc...please let me know...would love to get it back.

Qualitymark · 28-07-2013 9:41am

grodge wrote: »

I spoke to some guys in a used bike yard on capel street. They said that <snip> cut two locks an stole two bikes from the stands opposite Cineworld on Parnell st Dublin. Used an angle grinder.

Someone approached him and he said that he worked for Dublin City Council and was removing bikes. Wheeled them into an old white van parked across the road.

The obvious answer to that is "You won't mind my taking your photo, then? **Snap** - if we ever get together to fight bike theft, one strategy could be to put up posters in known bike theft places: "If you see a bike thief, take his picture", and set up a garda text number, if they'd do it, to which people could text the pictures.

magicbastarder · 28-07-2013 10:56am

i was waiting for a bus in phibsboro once and witnessed an amusing arrest, where a bike thief swore blind to a garda it was his bike he was trying to release, but the garda manouevred them to make sure they couldn't see the bike (without them realising what the garda was doing), and then asked 'what colour is your bike?'
'ehh... blue?'
immediate arrest.

MrScootch · 29-07-2013 12:32am

eladnova wrote: »

The thing is, until this happened to us, I was convinced it happened maybe occasionally. A casual browse around the forums and this stolen bike lark seems to be a major organised crime affecting people every day. And they're just the ones that popup on forums.

People like you and me who are just trying to get to work and do a hard days slog are being robbed by scumbags who do this for a "living".

You are bang on there. I can't find it now but saw a news clip on youTube where one guy was discovered to have a multi-million dollar operation with warehouses all over his city full of stolen bikes, some of them being stripped for parts sold on eBay, rarer models being shipped to other cities etc. I think it was in Vancouver or Toronto.

MrScootch · 29-07-2013 2:02am

It's all right folks, the issue has been raised in the Dail. Alan Shatter is on the case...

...he says there's a leaflet we can read. I'll rest easier tonight, let me tell you!

http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2013-04-30a.956

Qualitymark · 29-07-2013 8:32am

Alan Shatter (Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence; Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together.

An Garda Síochána is proactive in encouraging the public to protect their property, including bicycles, and a range of measures are in place to prevent and tackle the theft of bicycles.

A crime prevention information leaflet on bicycle security is available on the Garda website, . The leaflet accentuates the importance of bicycle owners keeping a record of the bicycle frame identification number, colour and any other unique features. Furthermore, in July 2012, An Garda Síochána created a link from the Garda website to YouTube to call attention to a video on bicycle security which had been developed as a joint initiative by An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council. I am also informed that An Garda Síochána is currently rolling out a pilot scheme in a number of Garda locations which allows members of the public to view on-line photographs of recovered property, including bicycles, on the Garda page of the social media site, Flickr.

I have no plans at the present time to introduce legal obligations in this regard over and above the voluntary crime prevention measures which owners of any type of valuable property are encouraged to take to assist in the return of their property should it be recovered following a theft.

I particularly like that last paragraph. Legal obligations on you, the bicycle owner, not on Mr Bike Thief.

conf101 · 29-07-2013 10:13am

Hi all. My bike was stolen from my apartment complex on Royal Canal Bank in Phibsborough at the weekend. I've attached a photo. It's a second hand bike made from parts from different bikes (not by me) and it's worth only the change in your pocket but I love the thing.

It's identifiable by dodgy gears, a saddle that's torn to shreds and some orange tape around parts of the handlebars.

I know the chances are slim but if anybody comes across it I'd appreciate a heads up.

Thanks

dogsears · 29-07-2013 11:09am

Qualitymark wrote: »

I particularly like that last paragraph. Legal obligations on you, the bicycle owner, not on Mr Bike Thief.

To be fair, that part reads to me like the answer to one of the 2 Dail Questions he said he was dealing with together i.e. Does the Minister plan to introduce any legal obligations on bicycle owners to report bike thefts?

i.e. not just an bike thief friendly bit he lobbed in for good measure.

Trent Houseboat · 29-07-2013 11:31am

Is theres still no system whereby you can register your bike (make, model, frame no. sales reciept) with an Gardaí?

RunRoryRun · 29-07-2013 11:34am

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

Is theres still no system whereby you can register your bike (make, model, frame no. sales reciept) with an Gardaí?

www.bikeregister.ie

Squidgy Black · 29-07-2013 11:35am

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

Is theres still no system whereby you can register your bike (make, model, frame no. sales reciept) with an Gardaí?

Unfortunately there's no formal system that you can register the details with the Gardai, unlike our UK counterparts who are always a couple of steps ahead.

Bike theft in London is absolutely ridiculous, it seems to be a case that you can't leave any bike locked for more than an hour or two, even with the most heavy duty locks. They have specialized task forces in the police dedicated to bike theft and everything.

grodge · 29-07-2013 11:40am

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

Is there's still no system whereby you can register your bike (make, model, frame no. sales receipt) with an Gardaí?

There are signs up in my apartment complex saying that there is a scheme in Bridewell Gda Stn (local station) to register your bike with them so they have a record of it. There is a website bikeregister.ie, I don't know what level of cooperation they have with Gardai

Trent Houseboat · 29-07-2013 11:44am

RunRoryRun wrote: »

www.bikeregister.ie

They don't seem to have anything to do with an Gardaí Síochana, private company who sell alarms and CCTV.

RunRoryRun · 29-07-2013 11:48am

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

They don't seem to have anything to do with an Gardaí Síochana, private company who sell alarms and CCTV.

From their website.....

"Should your bicycle be stolen, we will work in partnership with the Gardai to return it to you in the event of recovery."

At the moment it seems it's the best option out there. As long as you keep track of your bike details yourself, you can go into the Garda station in the event of a theft. Even if this site doesn't work, you've lost nothing by registering. It's free and takes 2 mins. At worst, you can use it as a record of your bikes serial number.

Trent Houseboat · 29-07-2013 12:05pm

RunRoryRun wrote: »

From their website.....

"Should your bicycle be stolen, we will work in partnership with the Gardai to return it to you in the event of recovery."

At the moment it seems it's the best option out there. As long as you keep track of your bike details yourself, you can go into the Garda station in the event of a theft. Even if this site doesn't work, you've lost nothing by registering. It's free and takes 2 mins. At worst, you can use it as a record of your bikes serial number.

I'm not saying there's anything to be lost by registering with them, but I would have thought that an Gardaí would have had their own system by now.

RunRoryRun · 29-07-2013 12:12pm

Trent Houseboat wrote: »

I'm not saying there's anything to be lost by registering with them, but I would have thought that an Gardaí would have had their own system by now.

You're dead right - they should definitely have something set up themselves. A scheme for tagging bikes and random checkpoints to confirm ownership would shrink the second hand buying of stolen bikes market considerably.

Qualitymark · 29-07-2013 4:19pm

RunRoryRun wrote: »

You're dead right - they should definitely have something set up themselves. A scheme for tagging bikes and random checkpoints to confirm ownership would shrink the second hand buying of stolen bikes market considerably.

This used to exist in the 1950s; tis well I remember being brought along to my local Garda station at seven to turn my bike upside down and read off the number to the garda keeping the register - and then later being stopped and asked to turn the bike up and show it for checking.

Thargor · 29-07-2013 4:24pm

Qualitymark wrote: »

This used to exist in the 1950s; tis well I remember being brought along to my local Garda station at seven to turn my bike upside down and read off the number to the garda keeping the register - and then later being stopped and asked to turn the bike up and show it for checking.

Seriously? Thats bizarre, Im only 27 but I remember as kids in Galway nobody locked their bikes, neighbours would just lean them against walls outside the pubs etc or against a streetlight all night, I always thought the Guards were so useless with bike crime because there was never any need for enforcement until recent years, obviously I know there would always have been bad spots.

Thargor · 29-07-2013 4:25pm

Or are you taking the piss and I walked into it?

Qualitymark · 29-07-2013 4:29pm

Thargor wrote: »

Seriously? Thats bizarre, Im only 27 but I remember as kids in Galway nobody locked their bikes, neighbours would just lean them against walls outside the pubs etc or against a streetlight all night, I always thought the Guards were so useless with bike crime because there was never any need for enforcement until recent years, obviously I know there would always have been bad spots.

Yeah, Sandycove was rough back in the day

endacl · 29-07-2013 4:36pm

RunRoryRun wrote: »

You're dead right - they should definitely have something set up themselves. A scheme for tagging bikes and random checkpoints to confirm ownership would shrink the second hand buying of stolen bikes market considerably.

You can register your bike on the Pulse system at either the Bridewell or Donnybrook Garda stations. Actually probably more at this point, but definitely those two. It started with a young guard in the Bridewell who apparently set up an informal register of her own bat, as she was tired of seeing the hundreds recovered of bikes that couldn't be reunited with their owners because those owners couldn't give a better description than 'blue, two wheels, has gears and brakes'.

So, in response to 'the guards don't take bicycle theft seriously', the evidence suggests that in this case, they do. They're stretched. My partner had several grand stolen in temple bar a couple of years ago. The frustration obvious from the guards in Pearce st was plain to see. They only had one car on the road that day, because their budget wouldn't allow them to put fuel in their other vehicles. As an aside, they did manage to catch the pricks subsequently.... My experience of the guards in response to bike thefts is generally positive. From talking to many though, their experience is frustration. From lack of resources, to people whinging about 'nothing being done', when the same people by and large, hadn't even the cop on to take note of their bike's frame number. Apparently that's the bike shop's job these days.

This has been mentioned in-thread, and in other threads. Honestly, before demanding a system should exist, why not first check to make sure it doesn't?!?

joeperry · 29-07-2013 4:42pm

Matt Cooper discussing it now.

Stolen Bikes Thread - Mod Note please read post #1 before posting

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