My bicycle was stolen

whellman1030

I use to leave my bike with a lock, locked to the stairs bars like the rest of the neighborhood.

It was never stolen before. It was stolen while I was away in Holidays for 2 weeks. It was an old second hand and cheap bike anyway.

I'm just wondering if they cutted the lock, or if they are able to open it with a wire.

So I also ask for advice for a good lock difficult to cut and difficult to be open using a wire.

Also I'm going to the police but don't expect they to help me in any thing.

Beasty

Andy Magic wrote: »

Did you lock it like this?

Actually the fail is in your post - if you don't want to be constructive then don't bother posting

butterworth

If you're looking for a new lock quickly I think you can get a Kryptonite Series 2 U-lock + cable for around €40 in Cyclebike close to Jervis if you're in Dublin. Like this. Only way you'd get it off in a reasonable amount of time would be with an angle grinder or a car jack. These locks are generally immune to being picked, too.

If you had a cable lock it was probably just cut. You'd be surprised how easily defeated most cable locks are.

quozl

Very good lock available for about 53euro delivered to Ireland - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite-York-Standard-Flexframe-Bracket/dp/B005YPK9SY

Much better, but a fair bit heavier, than the cheaper Kryptonites.

Any of the Kryptonite New York locks or an Abus Granite would be my recommendation. I'd risk the Kryptonite evolutions if your bike wasn't worth much but I wouldn't go below that personally.

Like Butterworth said, all cable locks are junk sadly.

Squidgy Black

Yeah the Kryptonite New York locks are solid, it'll take a thief a good while to get through one.

Cable locks are useless, to prove a point to a friend of mine who paid 8 euro for one of the cheap Safeman cable locks, I cut through it with a heavy duty scissors in a little over a minute, so you can imagine any kind of bolt cutters or junior hacksaw would get through it in seconds.

Andy Magic

Beasty wrote: »

Actually the fail is in your post - if you don't want to be constructive then don't bother posting

<snip>

No Pants

whellman1030 wrote: »

I use to leave my bike with a lock, locked to the stairs bars like the rest of the neighborhood.

Are these the stairs in your apartment block or the steps outside? What are these bars made out of?

whellman1030 wrote: »

Also I'm going to the police but don't expect they to help me in any thing.

Definitely report it, even if only to add it to the statistics.

seamus

You have to approach bike security in the same way that you approach computer security. That is, the only truly secure bike is one locked in a safe and buried under 10m of concrete.

Ultimately if someone really wants your bike, they will have it. But most people don't want it that much, they will just take it because they can. Really. A former colleague of mine had a fairly shabby 1960's shopping bike stolen. Completely and utterly worthless, but because it wasn't locked, it was taken.

So you have to make it just difficult enough to take your bike that it's not worth the effort because the bike isn't worth that much. Rough rule of thumb is that a thief will spend one minute for every €1,000 of value in your bike. So they'll happily hack away for five minutes if they think they're taking a bike worth €5k. But if the bike is worth €200, they won't risk spending 60 seconds trying to take it. If they can't pop the lock and go in less than ten seconds, they will leave your bike alone. So with that in mind, buy a lock which is proportionate. If you're in the habit of parking €5k bikes in public, buy 3 locks which will each withstand five minutes of attack and put them all on your bike.
If you're sane and your bike is worth closer to €500, then a good U-lock, like the Kryptonite one above, should be enough to keep you safe. You don't need to a lock that's impervious to attack, just one that can't be broken by pulling hard on the bike - most cable locks and cheap U-locks will actually break if the thief just pulls really hard on your bike.

While I say that a thief won't spend much time on a cheap bike, this also depends on where you lock the bike. If they think they can work away uninterrupted, then they will spend 2 minutes taking your €200 bike. So backstreets, quiet roads are all no-nos. Gougers actually walk down quieter roads and streets looking for opportunities to burgle properties and steal bikes. Find the most public place you can and lock the bike there. The more public a place is, the more chance a thief will be disturbed, so the less time they will risk working on your lock.

Beasty

Andy Magic wrote: »

<snip>

If you have a problem with a post report it. If you have a problem with a mod action, PM the mod. Do not respond in thread as it takes the thread further off-topic

I'm deleting your original post as it is basically an attempt to ridicule the OP

whellman1030

seamus wrote: »

You have to approach bike security in the same way that you approach computer security. That is, the only truly secure bike is one locked in a safe and buried under 10m of concrete.

Ultimately if someone really wants your bike, they will have it. But most people don't want it that much, they will just take it because they can. Really. A former colleague of mine had a fairly shabby 1960's shopping bike stolen. Completely and utterly worthless, but because it wasn't locked, it was taken.

So you have to make it just difficult enough to take your bike that it's not worth the effort because the bike isn't worth that much. Rough rule of thumb is that a thief will spend one minute for every €1,000 of value in your bike. So they'll happily hack away for five minutes if they think they're taking a bike worth €5k. But if the bike is worth €200, they won't risk spending 60 seconds trying to take it. If they can't pop the lock and go in less than ten seconds, they will leave your bike alone. So with that in mind, buy a lock which is proportionate. If you're in the habit of parking €5k bikes in public, buy 3 locks which will each withstand five minutes of attack and put them all on your bike.
If you're sane and your bike is worth closer to €500, then a good U-lock, like the Kryptonite one above, should be enough to keep you safe. You don't need to a lock that's impervious to attack, just one that can't be broken by pulling hard on the bike - most cable locks and cheap U-locks will actually break if the thief just pulls really hard on your bike.

While I say that a thief won't spend much time on a cheap bike, this also depends on where you lock the bike. If they think they can work away uninterrupted, then they will spend 2 minutes taking your €200 bike. So backstreets, quiet roads are all no-nos. Gougers actually walk down quieter roads and streets looking for opportunities to burgle properties and steal bikes. Find the most public place you can and lock the bike there. The more public a place is, the more chance a thief will be disturbed, so the less time they will risk working on your lock.

Thanks to everyone for the advices.

Seamus your logic makes completely sense. What breaks your logic is that my bike was bought in second hand by 80€ to a second hand shop and had the back brake broken...So why would they bother robbing a very crappy bike parked in my neighborhood with better bikes available?

whellman1030

No Pants wrote: »

Are these the stairs in your apartment block or the steps outside? What are these bars made out of?



Definitely report it, even if only to add it to the statistics.

These stairs are just after the main door of my apartment. The bars are made of Iron.

whellman1030

Definitely i'll give it another go with another second hand bike with the lock ye suggested and see if it lasts one year.

Then after that I can buy a better bike.

DirkVoodoo

They probably stole it because it was easy to steal and they might get a few euro for it or they just wanted something to ride around on.

Locking your bike incorrectly makes it easy to use the bike as a lever. See the video below for just how quickly a bike can be stolen if you make it easy for them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDOk3cnUKdY

whellman1030

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

They probably stole it because it was easy to steal and they might get a few euro for it or they just wanted something to ride around on.

Locking your bike incorrectly makes it easy to use the bike as a lever. See the video below for just how quickly a bike can be stolen if you make it easy for them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDOk3cnUKdY

Nice video but couldn't see in detail how did they do the magic. I have to research.

whellman1030

After seeing this I think I'll have the bike inside the house, and not leave it unattended for more than 10 minutes, even if it is locked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryY-qMFLcfo

whellman1030

So bought a new bike this time a 350euro bike, but the guy at the shop was suggesting me a chain lock, and he was saying that if someone can cut it, they deserve the bike!

I asked him what does he think about D locks, and was saying that the chain lock is as secure as D locks and also provides you more space to lock your bike.

So I'm somewhat undecided because the chain lock is 30 euro and the Kriptonite New York are about 90euro.

What do you say?

endacl

whellman1030 wrote: »

So bought a new bike this time a 350euro bike, but the guy at the shop was suggesting me a chain lock, and he was saying that if someone can cut it, they deserve the bike!

I asked him what does he think about D locks, and was saying that the chain lock is as secure as D locks and also provides you more space to lock your bike.

So I'm somewhat undecided because the chain lock is 30 euro and the Kriptonite New York are about 90euro.

What do you say?

You need two locks.

Squidgy Black

New york. A lot of chain links are easy enough to snip with a bolt cutters, because they give a lot of room for leverage.

I'll take him up on the challenge that if I snip his 30 euro chain lock I'll get a 350 euro bike any day of the week!

slap/dash

Depends on the bike. I've used the evolution mini for 7 years and sometimes with a disc lock off my ny chain and a lanyard. Just to make it so it can't be ridden away even after the u lock would be broken. I think that's generally enough

whellman1030

endacl wrote: »

You need two locks.

Two lock to put where? The bike rack that I use has onlu the possibility to lock one wheel...

endacl

whellman1030 wrote: »

Two lock to put where? The bike rack that I use has onlu the possibility to lock one wheel...

That's why I never use those racks. They're great for keeping either your front or rear wheel secure, but not much else.

What's your locking method? If you don't have one, then it really doesn't matter what lock you buy.

Squidgy Black

Even if you have to use those brutal racks, lock your frontwheel to the frame of the bike, at least that way they'll have to carry it off.

whellman1030

slap/dash wrote: »

Depends on the bike. I've used the evolution mini for 7 years and sometimes with a disc lock off my ny chain and a lanyard. Just to make it so it can't be ridden away even after the u lock would be broken. I think that's generally enough

So between a new york chain and D lock what is more secure?

Also I've seen this video about an alarm disc lock that is wonderful if I leave the bike at night parked outside the house http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkqgfWENZes . I think an alarm its a great idea!

endacl

whellman1030 wrote: »

So between a new york chain and D lock what is more secure?

Also I've seen this video about an alarm disc lock that is wonderful if I leave the bike at night parked outside the house http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkqgfWENZes . I think an alarm its a great idea!

Your neighbours will love you!!

I'm not convinced on the alarmed lock thing. When's the last time you heard a car alarm go off and did anything about it?

Have a googletube for 'Hal Ruzal'. A wise man.

You really can't skimp on locks. I use an Abus Bordo Granit Xplus through the rear wheel and triangle to a rack, a NY fahgeddaboutit around the crossbar to the rack, and an aux cable from the NY, through the saddle mount to the front wheel. That's about €200 worth of locks. Overkill? Maybe, but I've never had my bike interfered with, while I've noticed that bikes on the same rack have been. Expensive, but cheaper than replacing the bike. With those two locks, there's no leverage available, and the Bordo in particular would be a real bitch to get through with a grinder. A second scumbag would be needed to hold it steady.

I'm actually thinking of adding a Hiplok. Extra security, plus its quite a nifty idea. Also, it'll be a handy way of carrying the NYF, which is a bit of a beast to attach on the frame.

I have a bike security fetish...

Squidgy Black

It all depends on what area you're locking it outside too. I know there's not a hope in hell I'd leave my own bike locked outside where I live because it'd be gone by the time I woke up no matter how I locked it. Thing is if it's a nice enough area you might get away with two decent locks.

Thing about those alarm locks is, again it all depends on where you're using them. House alarms going off all over the place around here on the northside and they're just ignored, same with car alarms, I'd imagine it's the same in a lot of places.

Planet X

I'm surprised that not many people here use Pitlocks on their wheels,

http://www.pitlock.de/shop/standard-sets/set-01/index.php

It's "virtually" thief proof for wheels and other parts. Frees up that second lock situation.
Have a look at the site.

endacl

Planet X wrote: »

I'm surprised that not many people here use Pitlocks on their wheels,

http://www.pitlock.de/shop/standard-sets/set-01/index.php

It's "virtually" thief proof for wheels and other parts. Frees up that second lock situation.
Have a look at the site.

They are a great idea. I do like to have the quick releasability though. For popping the bike in the boot the odd time etc.

I think two locks are pretty much the necessary minimum at this point though. Which negates the need for pitlocks.

Fabi0

seamus wrote: »

You have to approach bike security in the same way that you approach computer security. That is, the only truly secure bike is one locked in a safe and buried under 10m of concrete.

Ultimately if someone really wants your bike, they will have it. But most people don't want it that much, they will just take it because they can. Really. A former colleague of mine had a fairly shabby 1960's shopping bike stolen. Completely and utterly worthless, but because it wasn't locked, it was taken.

So you have to make it just difficult enough to take your bike that it's not worth the effort because the bike isn't worth that much. Rough rule of thumb is that a thief will spend one minute for every €1,000 of value in your bike. So they'll happily hack away for five minutes if they think they're taking a bike worth €5k. But if the bike is worth €200, they won't risk spending 60 seconds trying to take it. If they can't pop the lock and go in less than ten seconds, they will leave your bike alone. So with that in mind, buy a lock which is proportionate. If you're in the habit of parking €5k bikes in public, buy 3 locks which will each withstand five minutes of attack and put them all on your bike.
If you're sane and your bike is worth closer to €500, then a good U-lock, like the Kryptonite one above, should be enough to keep you safe. You don't need to a lock that's impervious to attack, just one that can't be broken by pulling hard on the bike - most cable locks and cheap U-locks will actually break if the thief just pulls really hard on your bike.

While I say that a thief won't spend much time on a cheap bike, this also depends on where you lock the bike. If they think they can work away uninterrupted, then they will spend 2 minutes taking your €200 bike. So backstreets, quiet roads are all no-nos. Gougers actually walk down quieter roads and streets looking for opportunities to burgle properties and steal bikes. Find the most public place you can and lock the bike there. The more public a place is, the more chance a thief will be disturbed, so the less time they will risk working on your lock.

Insightful reply.

Thanks!

whellman1030

So everyone here recomends Kriptonyte New York right?

So watch this and talk to me again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxHD9_uEf8

endacl

whellman1030 wrote: »

So everyone here recomends Kriptonyte New York right?

So watch this and talk to me again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxHD9_uEf8

They haven't used the tubular pin tumbler system since that flaw was discovered. There was an immediate recall, and owners could exchange for the newer design. If you're gonna be a smartar5e, at least try to be a properly researched one. You asked a question and got good advice here. A more conventional response might be 'thank you'?

There you go. I talked to you again.

iverjohnston

leaving your bike chained to a railing and going off on a two week holiday is inviting trouble. by the second week, especially if it has a slow puncture, its starting to look abandoned. a robber with no morals would take it anyway, a robber with a few morals Will convince himself its abandoned and that if is doing the council a favour. could you not have put it into your room while away?

Chinasea

looking at one of the links to u-tube led me to a police sting in London where undercover police waited to catch a bike thief and successfully managed to do so. Any chance this could happen in Dublin? Ever?

thomasm

Out of curiosity is there any kind of bike lock with an alarm. Surely an audible deterrent would help deter scumbags

Fabi0

whellman1030 wrote: »

So everyone here recomends Kriptonyte New York right?

ABUS SINUS PLUS + COBRA CABLE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abus-Sinus-Plus-Combination-Pack/dp/B004YEMMKE

This is also a great website with a variety of D-LOCKs and other kinds of locks.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/d-locks/

magicbastarder

i'm going to be locking bikes inside a garage attached to the house, and will have a reasonable amount of room to store them.
what's the best solution when you've got that sort of permanent room? i was thinking the first thing would be to pop the front wheels off and bring them into the house, so they're not rideable unless they find the wheels too.

No Pants

Chinasea wrote: »

looking at one of the links to u-tube led me to a police sting in London where undercover police waited to catch a bike thief and successfully managed to do so. Any chance this could happen in Dublin? Ever?

I doubt it'll be a priority any time soon.

mylittlepony

Re: the video
I wonder did they just by turning the bike upside down twice, twisted and snapped off whatever was holding the bike to the rail. Simple :eek:

Surveyor11

Chinasea wrote: »

looking at one of the links to u-tube led me to a police sting in London where undercover police waited to catch a bike thief and successfully managed to do so. Any chance this could happen in Dublin? Ever?

Was researching the interweb after my own bike was nicked by a prolific thief in our area. Came across a news story where a guy was nabbed by a sting operation by blanchardstown gardai, even suggested using my good bike as a bait to try and catch our man, but no luck

endacl

magicbastarder wrote: »

i'm going to be locking bikes inside a garage attached to the house, and will have a reasonable amount of room to store them.
what's the best solution when you've got that sort of permanent room? i was thinking the first thing would be to pop the front wheels off and bring them into the house, so they're not rideable unless they find the wheels too.

You could look into buying a length of chain. Something like http://www.chainandrope.ie/products/chains/grade-100-chains

Chain is muuuuch cheaper when it's not sold as a lock, and you can buy the length that suits you. For anchors, you've lots of options in a garage. Embedded pins into the wall or floor? Another great solution is a galvanised bucket and cement. Drop one end of the chain into the bucket and fill with cement. That won't be shifted once it sets. Your only weak point is a padlock, and you can use as many of these as you like.

The thing to remember about sheds/garages, is that they're often full of the tools needed to destroy locks...

magicbastarder

yeah, i'm probably going to store the power tools separately, we have a 12' x 8' block shed, and i'll keep the angle grinder in the house.
i'd prbably get a padlock where the body, rather than the hasp, is U-shaped, if i can get one big enough.
i don't expect to make a thief proof bike, i just want to make them work for their supper.

whellman1030

endacl wrote: »

They haven't used the tubular pin tumbler system since that flaw was discovered. There was an immediate recall, and owners could exchange for the newer design. If you're gonna be a smartar5e, at least try to be a properly researched one. You asked a question and got good advice here. A more conventional response might be 'thank you'?

There you go. I talked to you again.

No absolutely thank you!!!!

This is my way, I make research here, internet, friends.

Then I decide based on all information together.

Your was good advice I can tell now, but even if it wouldn't be it would always be nice from you share with me the information you have.

Don't get mad at me just because I research on more places than here, and I advice every people when looking for advice in life to research in lots of places and if you get contradictory information tell both sources that you have contradictory information from another source, that's the way it should be

whellman1030

iverjohnston wrote: »

leaving your bike chained to a railing and going off on a two week holiday is inviting trouble. by the second week, especially if it has a slow puncture, its starting to look abandoned. a robber with no morals would take it anyway, a robber with a few morals Will convince himself its abandoned and that if is doing the council a favour. could you not have put it into your room while away?

All my neighbors go on holidays for 2 weeks and leave the bikes in the street and they never get stolen. I was the first.

But no way I'm leaving it in the front of the house again, even if I'm at the house sleeping.

whellman1030

Ok New York chain locks seem to be the best in the world.

I was just thinking is there a cheaper way to get the same lock?

Like buying a decent chain and a decent lock for the chain separately?

In this case what is the recommended material and thickness for the chain?

Fabi0

whellman1030 wrote: »

Ok New York chain locks seem to be the best in the world.

I was just thinking is there a cheaper way to get the same lock?

Like buying a decent chain and a decent lock for the chain separately?

In this case what is the recommended material and thickness for the chain?

My local bike shop ( fitzcycles.ie - these guys also give in-store discounts of 10-20% and also awesome customer service) are recommending a german brand called ABUS.

If you look online you might get pretty much the same quality of those found in New York Chains and slightly cheaper.

Lumen

Fabi0 wrote: »

My local bike shop ( fitzcycles.ie - these guys also give in-store discounts of 10-20% and also awesome customer service) are recommending a german brand called ABUS.

If you look online you might get pretty much the same quality of those found in New York Chains and slightly cheaper.

Some Abus stuff is essentially crap, same as Kryptonite, if used inappropriately (e.g. cable locks for anything except very casual use, e.g. leaving outside a shop for 60 seconds).

There are few shortcuts to reliable bike security.

No Pants

magicbastarder wrote: »

yeah, i'm probably going to store the power tools separately, we have a 12' x 8' block shed, and i'll keep the angle grinder in the house.

Wrong way round. Keep the bike in the house.

whellman1030

What do you say about this one? much cheaper than the New York....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WASP-MOTORCYCLE-MOTORBIKE-CHAIN-SECURE/dp/B006Z67M36/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376288510&sr=8-2&keywords=bike+cut-resistant+chain

route66

whellman1030 wrote: »

What do you say about this one? much cheaper than the New York....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WASP-MOTORCYCLE-MOTORBIKE-CHAIN-SECURE/dp/B006Z67M36/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376288510&sr=8-2&keywords=bike+cut-resistant+chain

Specs look allright, but it's 2 kilos!

whellman1030

route66 wrote: »

Specs look allright, but it's 2 kilos!

So 2 kilos means the metal is crap and easy to cut right?

No Pants

whellman1030 wrote: »

So 2 kilos means the metal is crap and easy to cut right?

No, but you will have to carry that around with you if you don't park your bike in the same place and leave the lock there.

randomstuff

No Pants wrote: »

No, but you will have to carry that around with you if you don't park your bike in the same place and leave the lock there.

Do you know how much the higher end kryptonite locks weigh?