Dublin Bike Theft page...

itac

....just saw this on facebook. Dunno if anything will ever come of it, but just to let know peoples it's there...

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dublin-Bike-Theft/153042051397648

Might be helpful if they actually put up a simple guide on how to better protect your bike from being stolen, i.e. good locks, through the rear triangle, using 'safer' areas like the Drury Street car park etc., making sure you have the frame number safe etc.

itac

Dónal wrote: »

Might be helpful if they actually put up a simple guide on how to better protect your bike from being stolen, i.e. good locks, through the rear triangle, using 'safer' areas like the Drury Street car park etc., making sure you have the frame number safe etc.

That'd be a good plan alrighty...have no connection to the page myself, just thought I'd let peoples who might have an interest in it know it's there:)

-Chris-

Don't forget you can post things to their Wall, so if you have links to info about locking bikes or whatever you can share them on the page.

I'm also not sure if I want "Chris likes Dublin Bike Theft" showing up on my profile :P:D

monument

-Chris- wrote: »

Don't forget you can post things to their Wall, so if you have links to info about locking bikes or whatever you can share them on the page.

Was thinking the same but wasn't arsed logging in to Facebook in work, done now.

So after my comment earlier, I've put together the following steps. They're brief as they're for a poster I'm designing in work.

Bicycle Security Tips

A large number of bicycles are stolen in Dublin each year, but there are some easy ways to avoid yours being stolen.

• Make sure to use a good rated lock (e.g. Kryptonite or Abus U-Locks). Competitively priced online, these can be quite heavy (2+kgs each) so if using regularly, consider leaving one at your destination.

• Chain pad locks and cable locks are generally very weak against bolt cutters. No locks are invulnerable though – an angle grinder will defeat any lock, but using the other strategies mentioned here will help.

• To lock your bike properly use a U-shape lock through the rear triangle of the bike, locking the back wheel and also possibly the frame. Ensure the front wheel is also locked to your frame, especially if it is a quick release wheel.

• Lock your bike in a good area. Ensure what you lock your bike to is secure. Dublin City Council have a free and secure bike park with CCTV at Drury Street Car Park.

• Make sure to take away all easily removable items (lights, bottles, pumps, speedometers etc.) when locking your bike.

• Ensure where you keep your bike at home is secure. You could improve the security of a shed by installing a ground or a wall anchor.

• Each bike has a frame number, usually located underneath the bottom of the frame. Ensure this number is kept safe as it is the primary manner of establishing ownership of your bike if it is stolen.

Anyone have any comments on these?

radia

Nice work.

There are just two I'd tweak a bit, if the guidelines are aimed at new (naive) cyclists.

Dónal wrote: »

• To lock your bike properly use a U-shape lock through the rear triangle of the bike, locking the back wheel and also possibly the frame. Ensure the front wheel is also locked to your frame, especially if it is a quick release wheel.

I'd be a little concerned that someone with a quick release rear wheel might nonetheless only lock the rear wheel (since the frame is just marked as 'possibly' above) and would come back to find a wheel and their lock but no bike. Maybe adjust to:

• To lock your bike properly use a U-shape lock through the rear triangle of the bike, preferably locking both the frame and the back wheel. Do not just lock through a quick release back wheel. (A mini photo to illustrate would be great.)
• Ensure the front wheel is also locked to your frame, especially if it is a quick release wheel.

Dónal wrote: »

• Lock your bike in a good area. Ensure what you lock your bike to is secure. Dublin City Council have a free and secure bike park with CCTV at Drury Street Car Park.

In view of the recent thread (can't find it at the moment) indicating a lot of signposts are loose enough to be simply lifted out of the ground, perhaps adjust to:

• Lock your bike in a good area. Ensure what you lock your bike to is secure. (Give street furniture a good tug to check it's not loose.) Dublin City Council have a free and secure bike park with CCTV at Drury Street Car Park.

km991148

radia wrote: »

Nice work.

There are just two I'd tweak a bit, if the guidelines are aimed at new (naive) cyclists.

I'd be a little concerned that someone with a quick release rear wheel might nonetheless only lock the rear wheel (since the frame is just marked as 'possibly' above) and would come back to find a wheel and their lock but no bike. Maybe adjust to:

• To lock your bike properly use a U-shape lock through the rear triangle of the bike, preferably locking both the frame and the back wheel. Do not just lock through a quick release back wheel. (A mini photo to illustrate would be great.)
• Ensure the front wheel is also locked to your frame, especially if it is a quick release wheel.

In view of the recent thread (can't find it at the moment) indicating a lot of signposts are loose enough to be simply lifted out of the ground, perhaps adjust to:

• Lock your bike in a good area. Ensure what you lock your bike to is secure. (Give street furniture a good tug to check it's not loose.) Dublin City Council have a free and secure bike park with CCTV at Drury Street Car Park.

A good area being public with lots of people and not down a backstree or (for a recent example) at a Luas stop which lies empty all day. Also note that luas CCTV isnt worth a sh!t.

ejbenz

my bike was stolen in front of Aldi Store along Parnell St last 9 April 2013 around 12:00 - 1:00pm. been in store for about 15 mins and the bike was gone, locks cut, destroyed.

i wonder if notices can be put around bike stands with the ff:

"BEWARE OF BIKE THIEVES! LOCK YOUR BIKE AS SECURELY AS POSSIBLE."

i suppose i became complacent and reckless about bike security, thus having these notices like above will remind cyclists about securing their bikes. obviously the thieves are there all the time waiting for their victims; i did not realize bike theft is rampant in this city until i surf the web after my bike was stolen.

have reported the incident to the gardi to check the cctv with Aldi, so far no response from them.

mcmoustache

ejbenz wrote: »

my bike was stolen in front of Aldi Store along Parnell St last 9 April 2013 around 12:00 - 1:00pm. been in store for about 15 mins and the bike was gone, locks cut, destroyed.

What kind of lock was it and how was it secured?

I ask because others may have similar locks or locking strategies and knowing what doesn't work might save a few bikes.

QueensGael

Some good info here from Dublin Cycling Campaign
http://www.dublincycling.ie/AvoidTheThief

kenmc

radia wrote: »

Nice work.

There are just two I'd tweak a bit, if the guidelines are aimed at new (naive) cyclists.

I'd be a little concerned that someone with a quick release rear wheel might nonetheless only lock the rear wheel (since the frame is just marked as 'possibly' above) and would come back to find a wheel and their lock but no bike.

There's no need to lock the frame if the wheel is locked to a pole, inside the rear triangle. The only issue is if the wheel is locked outside of the triangle

Unregistered.

kenmc wrote: »

There's no need to lock the frame if the wheel is locked to a pole, inside the rear triangle. The only issue is if the wheel is locked outside of the triangle

And what happens when you saw through the wheel... Perfectly usable bike frame minus one wheel.

Lumen

Unregistered. wrote: »

And what happens when you saw through the wheel... Perfectly usable bike frame minus one wheel.

Most bikes are nicked by junkies/scummers who sell them for €50. With a busted rear wheel they're worth nothing.

kenmc

Unregistered. wrote: »

And what happens when you saw through the wheel... Perfectly usable bike frame minus one wheel.

Get out your hacksaw and try to saw through a wheel and tell me how long it takes

Unregistered.

Lumen wrote: »

Most bikes are nicked by junkies/scummers who sell them for €50. With a busted rear wheel they're worth nothing.

You're right. *Most*, not all. Why risk it, just lock the bike properly.

ejbenz

mcmoustache wrote: »

What kind of lock was it and how was it secured?

I ask because others may have similar locks or locking strategies and knowing what doesn't work might save a few bikes.

i put 2 types: a chain and the U type, both hacked and cut. but i supposed i didnt locked it the proper way, that's why if we have notices as reminders to cyclists on the stands, then we can't be complacent to leave our bikes not properly secured. also the thieves won't be as aggressive as they are now, less victims.

Beasty

The key to securing your bike is to make it more secure than the ones around it - that encourages the thieves to look elsewhere. You're not going to put thieves off by putting signs up - more/better policing is the main deterrant, but tbh in the current economic climate I don't anticipate significant increases in budgets to police bike theft

ejbenz

Beasty wrote: »

The key to securing your bike is to make it more secure than the ones around it - that encourages the thieves to look elsewhere. You're not going to put thieves off by putting signs up - more/better policing is the main deterrant, but tbh in the current economic climate I don't anticipate significant increases in budgets to police bike theft

yeah, that's what the Garda also told me: that they knew bike theft is rampant along Parnell St, but they simply don't have the resources to police bike theft at all hours. and until now, they have yet to get the cctv footage from Aldi Store that i requested to see if the thieves are on them. thus, i thought an awareness campaign about this rampant bike theft that is going on everyday in the city has to be pursued. i enjoin cyclists to lend a hand!