Arrrrgh! Bike Gone!!! outside engineering building

xmmm

My bike was removed (stolen presumably:mad:) today outside engineering building sometime between 10 and 5. Any info appreciated, its bright yellow.

Chucky the tree

Buy a new one?

RandolphEsq

Sorry to hear OP. You can report it but realistically there won't be anything done about it except note that a bike was stolen for statistical purposes.

I have never had my bike stolen, but I have also never witnessed a bike theft. It is scary to think that a bike can be lifted in broad daylight, in front of all the students, without anyone noticing. I wouldn't even know what a bike thief would look like! But the thieves probably look like they are just having lock trouble with their own bike so people don't pass heed. Those little scrotes from the sh1tty council place beside Riverview are known amongst the U.C.D. authorities for robbing things from U.C.D.

Outkast_IRE

xmmm wrote: »

My bike was removed (stolen presumably:mad:) today outside engineering building sometime between 10 and 5. Any info appreciated, its bright yellow.

sorry now but was it a cable lock or light chain , if so you might as well of locked your bike with piece of twine. Those cable locks can be cut in seconds literally.

Good quality Ulock is the only way to go ,top end kryptonite one preferably, and used in a correct manner.

Sorry for your loss.

pljudge321

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

sorry now but was it a cable lock or light chain , if so you might as well of locked your bike with piece of twine. Those cable locks can be cut in seconds literally.

Good quality Ulock is the only way to go ,top end kryptonite one preferably, and used in a correct manner.

Sorry for your loss.

Even the high end u-locks can be snipped in a scarily fast time. Its more about making your bike more hassle to steal than than the one next to it.

Dr Strange

The best locks I have seen so far seem to be the folding bike locks like ABUS: http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=29301

There was a programme on German TV recently and they were testing all kinds of bike locks, picking and cutting them. The folding bike lock was virtually unpickable and no bolt cutter could get through it. I think the only thing that could get through it are the jaws-of-life used by emergency personnel.

Eldoco

such a joke, should be harder sentences passed down to thieves like this..

my bike cost 1k plus if it was stolen nothing much get done but if someone stole a lil micra worth the same price you know where am going with this...


bike insured by any chance ?

Outkast_IRE

pljudge321 wrote: »

Even the high end u-locks can be snipped in a scarily fast time. Its more about making your bike more hassle to steal than than the one next to it.

A hign end u lock you will need a grinder to go through it, the proper high end ones are way thicker than a standard u lock and the steel much harder and denser , as long as the locking technique is correct then its actually a lot lot harder to steal, its only when you see these locks used incorrectly that i would be worried.
But you are corrrect every lock is breakable , but needing to grind through a lock is a lot more noticeable than just using a bolt cutters on a cable lock

pljudge321

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

A hign end u lock you will need a grinder to go through it, the proper high end ones are way thicker than a standard u lock and the steel much harder and denser , as long as the locking technique is correct then its actually a lot lot harder to steal, its only when you see these locks used incorrectly that i would be worried.
But you are corrrect every lock is breakable , but needing to grind through a lock is a lot more noticeable than just using a bolt cutters on a cable lock

Go to 4:40 where they test the locks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AdugFzCi24

Bolt cutters will go through any of the locks. It is amazing how few people actually use the u-locks correctly though. They're supposed to go through the frame and the back wheel, leaving little space for anything to be wedged in. Most people just put it around the centre of the frame, leaving a massive gap.

Crow92

If you report it you should always have the serial number, usually located under the bottom bracket. It's virtually impossible for the guards to get it back to you without a serial number. (some bikes do get found and given back),

As said above a good u-lock is key, I used 2 U-Locks on a bike worth around €2,000 that I locked in ucd for 3 months without a bother.

Unfortunate that it happened.

RandolphEsq

9:25 into that video above is a bike thief caught in the act.

Tayto2000

pljudge321 wrote: »

Go to 4:40 where they test the locks.

Bolt cutters will go through any of the locks. It is amazing how few people actually use the u-locks correctly though. They're supposed to go through the frame and the back wheel, leaving little space for anything to be wedged in. Most people just put it around the centre of the frame, leaving a massive gap.

Quality U-locks or a high end chain are still the best option. Boltcutters will go through any lock they can fit the jaws around given enough force, there's a few caveats though:

The boltcutters they like showing in lock cutting demos tend to be at least the 42" monsters, these are not the size carried by most bike thieves due to the weight and difficulty concealing them (You effectively need a vehicle to carry them) Weapon of choice is the 12"-18" size which will do most crappy cable locks and can be concealed and used easily. Most decent locks are proof against these on jaw size alone, even the 24" size will struggle. Small engineering tweaks like a square profile instead of round increases resistance as well. As Preusse mentioned, the flat profile on that folding design can't be cropped at the main links.

Boltcutters are designed to work on metals that are softer than the cutting jaws. High quality locks will be hardened and are very hard to cut as they don't really compress or give prior to parting company completely. Even when it does cut, it can cause severe damage to the bolt cutters, notching or even cracking the cutting edge. Unfortunately, excessive hardening makes them vulnerable to shattering attacks so it's a trade off. If you're wondering wy X Abus lock costs €50 and Y Abus lock costs €100, it's generally down to the toughness of the metal (Allowing for marketing, hype etc as well of course).

Anything is better than the cable locks though. As a rule of thumb:

cable lock < armoured cable lock< U/Lock/Heavy Chain
Assuming they are used correctly of course as mentioned.

OP, call in to campus services and report it, even if there's not much chance of recovering your bike, at least there'll be a small chance and it can help prevent future thefts if a face can be put to the culprit.

Bit late of course but for others Donnybrook Gardai run a bike registration scheme based on the Pulse system, campus service have the forms for it. At the very least it's worth making a note of the frame number for your own use.

pljudge321

Tayto2000 wrote: »

Quality U-locks or a high end chain are still the best option. Boltcutters will go through any lock they can fit the jaws around given enough force, there's a few caveats though:

Agreed, like I said before its about making you're bike too much hassle for them to steal.

III

Don't physically lock your bike, do it psychologically. Never clean it, chip away some of the paint (and add some splashes for good measure) cut some scratches into your seat and smear some brown paint right on the edge. Tie a plastic bag to one of the spokes, I find this adds a little "pizzazz". I guarantee this will protect your bike better than a steel padlock with a reinforced titanium core! What pikey would choose your sh*t heap rather than the dozens surrounding it? There is method to this madness.

tgdaly

pljudge321 wrote: »

Even the high end u-locks can be snipped in a scarily fast time. Its more about making your bike more hassle to steal than than the one next to it.[/QUOT E]

Never mind these fancy locks. A padlock and big thick chain is the best way to go

Witcher

Saw a guy taking the saddle off his bike at the racks beside the lake the other day...don't think anyone would want to steal that:pac:

pljudge321

tgdaly wrote: »

pljudge321 wrote: »

Even the high end u-locks can be snipped in a scarily fast time. Its more about making your bike more hassle to steal than than the one next to it.[/QUOT E]

Never mind these fancy locks. A padlock and big thick chain is the best way to go

You can get through a padlock way easier than a u-lock.

RandolphEsq

According to that video it takes 10 seconds max to get through any lock with a heavy-duty lock cutter that makes no noise, so really nothing is safe!

tgdaly

pljudge321 wrote: »

tgdaly wrote: »

You can get through a padlock way easier than a u-lock.

No chance

gradlife

Paddlock and chain is the way to go, you can leave it chained to the bike stand overnight as well to save having to drag it in and out.

U-locks can be opened with a bic biro...............not going to explain how though.

RandolphEsq

"Has Bic made a new pen that can open the flat-key locks?"

Tayto2000

Masterlock are a shítty brand, OK for low security jobs and cheap. Go Abus or Kryptonite for your bicycle.

The big brands got stung years ago (around 2004 I think) with the biro trick because they had all focussed on resistance to cutting etc and were all still using the same 50 year old lock design. Kryptonite especially had to rush out a new lock for their decent locks immediately.

Mycroft H

There is no totally safe lock, but you can make it as safe as possible. Have the right technique, use the right lock and park in a sensible high traffic spot beside someone with a crappy lock. And don't leave it overnight.

Right technique (x2 decent U locks)

Pride Fighter

Blay wrote: »

Saw a guy taking the saddle off his bike at the racks beside the lake the other day...don't think anyone would want to steal that:pac:

You can also take your wheels off if they are quick release and put them in a locker. Just make sure the frame is locked down tight.

Clareh123

My sympathies, having a bike stolen is a horrible experience. The moment you realise it's not there is just awful. I once had a cheap cable lock cut through and the bike robbed by young teenagers (got it back luckily), also once had the seat stolen which was a bit bizzare. But for the last year or so I've been using a thicker kryptonite cable lock, it was about €25 and I've had no incidents, including leaving it in town and some 'dodgier' suburbs. Then again, it's not a fancy bike so you'd want to spend more if it was.

smilgy

Is locking a bicycle with a motorcycle lock at all safe ?

Mycroft H

Clareh123 wrote: »

My sympathies, having a bike stolen is a horrible experience. The moment you realise it's not there is just awful. I once had a cheap cable lock cut through and the bike robbed by young teenagers (got it back luckily), also once had the seat stolen which was a bit bizzare. But for the last year or so I've been using a thicker kryptonite cable lock, it was about €25 and I've had no incidents, including leaving it in town and some 'dodgier' suburbs. Then again, it's not a fancy bike so you'd want to spend more if it was.

All cable locks are rubbish. Even the Kryptonite ones. Buy a U lock if you want to keep your bike. Espicially if you lock it in the city center.

Clareh123

BX 19 wrote: »

All cable locks are rubbish. Even the Kryptonite ones. Buy a U lock if you want to keep your bike. Espicially if you lock it in the city center.

It's better than the €10 one that resulted in it being stolen. I like using a cable lock cos I can stick it through my helmet so I don't have to carry it around with me, also you have a bit more choice of what you can lock your bike to than with a U-lock. Also I've heard of people using the bike as a big lever to break a U-lock. Having said that, my bike is about 4 years old and cost €200 at the time, I would definitely use a better lock if it was more expensive. I also find it safer to leave my bike in a busy area in town like on O'Connell street than a quieter part of the suburbs because it's harder for someone to be inconspicuous about stealing if there's loads of people around. I also usually put it beside a much nicer bike.

Crow92

Trust me, I worked in a bike shop for a year, they're not much better than a 10euro lock. I had a 50 euro cable lock years ago when I was a young and they chopped it in half and took the bike. I'd just avoid them unless your using it to lock your front wheel to the frame.

I can honestly say I've never had a problem finding a place with my 2 U-Locks. And I usually lock my helmet through one of the locks too.

I'd lock it like BX's picture above, one through the back, one around the wheel.
My bikes worth around 800-1000 and I lock it in UCD everyday and have never had a problem. Tbh I'd be more worried about the crap "toaster" racks around where I am.

C14N

Just wondering but how as a rule of thumb, how much is it usually right to spend on a lock as a proportion of bike cost? I have a bike that was €300 a year ago so it just seems like spending €100 on a lock is a little excessive, especially when you're supposed to get two.

At the moment I have two chain locks, one about an inch thick that I use for securing the body and another smaller on for the rear wheel but I want to switch to D locks.

Mycroft H

Two of these

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k1692/a73711/evolution-mini-5-with-flexframe.html?mfid=558

Probably overkill, but your bike will stay there. It's what I use.