Almost had bike robbed outside house

grizzly

So I'm sitting in my front room on the net (around 1 hour ago) and I hear my chain (it's a heavy motor-cycle type lock, weighs about 9kg) rattling. I run to the door and see a couple of guys legging down the street towards a car. I chase after them and the nearest one jumps on to the bike (Giant FCR2.5) and tries to cycle off.

Luckily he falls off in the process and drops his bolt cutters (see pic). Their is a breif stand-off while he gets up and thinks up picking up the cutters. I go for them first and he runs off.

I was surprised that they could cut through my lock so easily (I shouldn't be). I'm going to use both a chain and U lock in future.

FrankGrimes

Good stuff that you caught them before they managed to make off with it, scumbags that they are. I'm sure there'll be those that say it's best not to interfere in these situations as they may be armed, and that's probably sound advice, but I guess you probably found it wasn't a conscious decision and it was just a gut instinct to chase them.

What type of lock did you have on it? From reading the various threads on here I'm not clear if any lock exists that is regarded as thief-proof.

What area was it in out of curiosity?

Did you ring the Gardai? Might seem futile but for whatever chance there is that they may be able to get prints off the cutters and match them or that your description may be of people known to them and they could add this to their case, it's worth it.

Danbo!

I assume you called the gardai and handed over the bolt-cutters. Did you get a reg from the car?

****ing Scumbags.

72hundred

Report to gardai, with a detailed description of the guys and cars first thing in the morning.

As for the bike, I'd lock it inside, ALL locks could be cut over night.

72oo

grizzly

In answer to questions;

It's an Oxford lock, bought last year.

I called the Garda – want to hand over the cutters tonight – but I don't think they'll be coming now.

I'm in Dublin 7.

Didn't get a reg from car – all happened too fast.

The bike is definitely inside tonight, but I worried they might come back and break in for the cutters.

72hundred

grizzly wrote: »

In answer to questions;The bike is definitely inside tonight, but I worried they might come back and break in for the cutters.

Well if you're very worried about it you could leave them beside front door outside... that way no need for them to come in.

I don't think they'll be back though myself.


EDIT: "them" being the bolt cutters not the bike!

grizzly

Gardai have been and gone – took the cutters and said they'd take prints in case it matched anyone they have on file. Imagine nothing will come of that.

They said that there's no chance of them coming back for anything. Hopefully that's the end of that!

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Still it'd be nice to have them done for it. It sounds like a pretty professional outfit

umpsfar

There are a few shops on talbot st that i remember seeing bolt cutters in for 25 and 35 euro , never dawned why all the nick/nack shops sell em. on that particular st.
supply n demand.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Cheaper than a bloody lock! I saw a vid on youtube there recently of people putting chain locks to the test. A faggetaboutit chain lasted about thirty seconds against a bolt cutter. (It was a 42inch cutter however) i'll try and link it this evening when i'm at home. It's worrying viewing to see motorcycle chain locks get sliced in seconds.

beans

*

Ghost Rider

Do you think they'd find it funny if you found some way to lock their bolt cutters to the same place they'd found your bike...?

grizzly wrote: »

In answer to questions;

It's an Oxford lock, bought last year.

I called the Garda – want to hand over the cutters tonight – but I don't think they'll be coming now.

I'm in Dublin 7.

Didn't get a reg from car – all happened too fast.

The bike is definitely inside tonight, but I worried they might come back and break in for the cutters.

Ghost Rider

So Talbot Street is the Rodeo Drive of bike thieves. Who knew?

umpsfar wrote: »

There are a few shops on talbot st that i remember seeing bolt cutters in for 25 and 35 euro , never dawned why all the nick/nack shops sell em. on that particular st.
supply n demand.

Gavin

grizzly wrote: »

Luckily he falls off in the process and drops his bolt cutters (see pic). Their is a breif stand-off while he gets up and thinks up picking up the cutters. I go for them first and he runs off.

Great job. It's a shame you didn't get to keep the cutter, you could have framed it and put in on the wall.

I think that photo will have to go onto the wiki bicycle lock page though !

pvt.joker

Scum. Glad to hear they didnt get your bike. I've had 3 bikes stolen since I moved to Dublin 6 years ago , all sturdily locked.

Treade

grizzly wrote: »

In answer to questions;

It's an Oxford lock, bought last year.

I called the Garda – want to hand over the cutters tonight – but I don't think they'll be coming now.

I'm in Dublin 7.

Didn't get a reg from car – all happened too fast.

The bike is definitely inside tonight, but I worried they might come back and break in for the cutters.

Those Oxford locks are no use. They are able to cut through them like butter.

grizzly

Yeah, they did it in seconds! I bought a u-lock as extra protection for whenever I lock-up in town. Between the two of they I should be ok.

72hundred

Anybody got any idea how good this is: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kryptonite_New_York_3000D_With_Free_7ft_Kryptoflex_Cable/5360036846/

Bought it there last week.


72oo

Thomas_S_Hunterson

72hundred wrote: »

Anybody got any idea how good this is: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kryptonite_New_York_3000D_With_Free_7ft_Kryptoflex_Cable/5360036846/

Bought it there last week.


72oo

Would be one of the best on the market AFAIK, extremely heavy though.

snubbleste

grizzly wrote: »

Luckily he falls off in the process and drops his bolt cutters (see pic). Their is a breif stand-off while he gets up and thinks up picking up the cutters. I go for them first and he runs off.

Looks like one of those e7.99 Lidl boltcutters

Ciaran500

Can you give more details on the lock they cut please. What model, did they cut the lock or chain?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Here's that youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpf35C7wu6Q

72hundred

Sean_K wrote: »

Would be one of the best on the market AFAIK, extremely heavy though.

Yeah its heavy as all hell, but all the good ones are. I don't think I'll ever bring it on big trips, just for runs into town, (where heavy protection is most needed).

That video does show a guy with some HUGE ass blot cutters! It's unlikely IMHO that someone would have those ready to use and in a public area. However if it's a private place and the bike is placed there regularly I guess it could be planned.


72oo

Bicyclegadabout

72hundred wrote: »

That video does show a guy with some HUGE ass blot cutters! It's unlikely IMHO that someone would have those ready to use and in a public area. However if it's a private place and the bike is placed there regularly I guess it could be planned.


72oo

Well, you could get a bolt cutter and then cut the handles so they are just short enough to fit into an average backpack, and also carry steel pipes which slot over the handles to give more leverage..........

Looking at that video, I'd say the best idea would be to spread grease on the ground around your bike

grizzly

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Can you give more details on the lock they cut please. What model, did they cut the lock or chain?

I don't know the model – I think I paid about €40 for it. I managed to get it back – and can still use it as they cut the link nearest the lock (so it's just a little shorter now).

72hundred

Bicyclegadabout wrote: »

Well, you could get a bolt cutter and then cut the handles so they are just short enough to fit into an average backpack, and also carry steel pipes which slot over the handles to give more leverage..........

That sounds very 007'ish for scumbags to plan!

Gavin

Here follows a factually stated statement with no facts to back it up.

There are two classes of thief. Amateur and Pro. The amateur is the opportunistic thief, who might carry a bolt cutter around with them and will snip cable locks.

The pro will have all the tools, a bottle jack, modified cutters, as gadabout describes and possibly even power tools. If these guys want a bike, all you can do is slow them down, you can't stop em. (Within reason)

To defeat the opportunistic thief, use a chain and ulock. They need two pieces of equipment then. Don't use a cable unless for short stops.

Be great if our resident Garda had more info on how bike thieves work and how to defeat em?

The wiki has info too
http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Locks_%26_Security

grizzly

Verb wrote: »

Great job. It's a shame you didn't get to keep the cutter, you could have framed it and put in on the wall.

I think that photo will have to go onto the wiki bicycle lock page though !

Done. I didn't even know boards has it's own wiki – it should be better promoted.

Fion_McCool

Verb wrote: »

Be great if our resident Garda had more info on how bike thieves work and how to defeat em?

Maybe when a few Garda bikes "get liberated" they may take a bit more interest !

;-)

Gavin

grizzly wrote: »

Done. I didn't even know boards has it's own wiki – it should be better promoted.

hehe, good job. Yeah people tend not to read the stickies and the wiki in general isn't advertised particularly much. It's a handy tool in conjunction with forums.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Fion McCool wrote:

Maybe when a few Garda bikes "get liberated" they may take a bit more interest !

;-)

I was passing by pearse st garda station there a couple of weeks back and they had the little garage/car park thing wide open, with a couple of the garda MTBs just sitting there waiting to be robbed. No locks nothing. So if there's any scum reading this, I might respect you a little bit more if you have the balls to go and nick one. It might encourage the gardai to take bikes more seriously.

TinyExplosions

grizzly wrote: »

Done. I didn't even know boards has it's own wiki – it should be better promoted.

What's the title of the third sticky at the top of this forum?

Bicyclegadabout

72hundred wrote: »

That sounds very 007'ish for scumbags to plan!

You'd think so, but I read about that on a website that someone here linked to. Some hysterically gung ho NYC cyclist described the method.

sk8board

grizzly wrote: »

I was surprised that they could cut through my lock so easily (I shouldn't be). I'm going to use both a chain and U lock in future.

2 things I'm surious about regarding the chain itself Grizzly:

1. was it a hardened lock, or just an ordinary stell lock? (A hardened lock for €40 would be unusual for an Irish shop)

2. Was the chain lying on the ground when locked to the bike/railing? EDIT: It gives the scambag more leverage

ruprect

Verb wrote: »

There are two classes of thief. Amateur and Pro. The amateur is the opportunistic thief, who might carry a bolt cutter around with them and will snip cable locks.

The pro will have all the tools, a bottle jack, modified cutters, as gadabout describes and possibly even power tools. If these guys want a bike, all you can do is slow them down, you can't stop em.

The trick is to make them not want the bike, mine is plastered in yellow paint all over everything (bar getting into mechanical parts). It is not worth robbing as it would be unsellable, to strip the paint off would take them days.

Dirk Gently

Had one taken from the front garden before. Cheap bike, cable locked to the railing. My brother only left it for 30 seconds and it was gone when he came back out, lock cut in half on the ground.

Even in the shed it's not safe. Last week someone tried to break in. Knew what they were doing. unscrewed the plate for the bolt but it was also held on with welded bolts on the inside so they proceeded to hack the wooden door frame. was only about an inch from getting in when I ran out the back. He left behind some blood on the door and a few tools. Didn't see him but must of just missed him by seconds. We then had to drill the wall out so the bolt actually goes into the brick work and put up some steel box section on the frame and weld the bolts so they can't hack away at it again. Also have a massive steel tube bolted onto the wall inside which I lock my best bike to, welded nuts again, just incase they do manage to get into the shed some day.

I think it's more the fact that they were in the back, working away unnoticed for a few minutes more so than actually stealing anything that annoyed me. Shed also has an alarmed pad lock on it now which lets off a high pitched squel i can here all over the house if anyone so much as tips off it.

Húrin

FrankGrimes wrote: »

I'm sure there'll be those that say it's best not to interfere in these situations as they may be armed, and that's probably sound advice

I don't think it is sound advice. These people should not be rewarded for their criminality.

Húrin

Sean_K wrote: »

I was passing by pearse st garda station there a couple of weeks back and they had the little garage/car park thing wide open, with a couple of the garda MTBs just sitting there waiting to be robbed. No locks nothing. So if there's any scum reading this, I might respect you a little bit more if you have the balls to go and nick one. It might encourage the gardai to take bikes more seriously.

I don't think even these types are stupid enough to take a Garda bike. Insta-arrest.

ruprect wrote: »

The trick is to make them not want the bike, mine is plastered in yellow paint all over everything (bar getting into mechanical parts). It is not worth robbing as it would be unsellable, to strip the paint off would take them days.

Same here, make it look rubbish. Yellow with stupid multicolour stripes. I think I saw your bike a month ago in Temple Bar and thinking how ridiculously yellow it was.