How to break the lock on my bike without looking like a theif?

JackieChang

My bike lock was tampered with and I can't get the key into it. It's locked up on a very busy street.

Any advice? I don't have any tools that can cut through it. The barrel seems damaged so I don't think a lock smith will get in there either.

It's a cable/wire sort of lock, not too robust. I'd say a good solid fence cutter would get through it.

I'm in Cork city it that matters.

Fireball XL5

I can't imagine that posting anything here on how to break a bicycle lock would be a good idea?

JackieChang

So do I just leave my bike there forever? Do locksmiths have fence cutters? Can the guards do it for me? I'm looking for advice here. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to give advice in public.

bucketybuck

Why does it matter if you look like a thief? Its not as if the owner is going to chase you...

Just get some wire cutters and cut the thing off.

Are Am Eye

You will need to borrow a very large set of snips/bolt cutter off someone.
> 30"
Inform the local cop shop just before you go to do it. So that nobody
misconstrues the situation. If you have something to prove ownership then
have that with you when you cut the lock

odyssey06

Just throwing some ideas out...
Daylight.
You and a mate.
Hi-vis vests, no hoodies up.
Bring identification in the unlikely event a Garda happens to be passing by.

pablo128

Hire a cordless angle grinder from a local hire shop.

JackieChang

I bought it from Adverts. Just checked the ad and the seller has removed the photo for some reason.

https://www.adverts.ie/hybrid-bikes/hybrid-bike-bargain/12422263

The advert is still there but it's useless without a pic.

I've no other proof of ownership. I thought I had a photo of it.

I'll probably ask a garda to stand next to me whenever I find a set of bolt cutters.

07Lapierre

JackieChang wrote: »

My bike lock was tampered with and I can't get the key into it. It's locked up on a very busy street.

Any advice? I don't have any tools that can cut through it. The barrel seems damaged so I don't think a lock smith will get in there either.

It's a cable/wire sort of lock, not too robust. I'd say a good solid fence cutter would get through it.

I'm in Cork city it that matters.

Drop into the local Garda station and advise them of the situation and tell them your going to cut the lock. Ask for a Garda to be present as you cut the lock.

Eamonnator

Where did you buy the lock?
What make is it?

JackieChang

Eamonnator wrote: »

Where did you buy the lock?
What make is it?

Would you believe it, I got it from the €2 shop and it withstood a picking attempt. The whole thing is fecked now but I'm impressed. Oh, they robbed my rear light too. I don't even know why they wanted to pick it, the bike is a real piece of crap.

Eamonnator

I have a feeling that you'd cut the lock with brake cable cutters.
You might even get away with a big Vise Grip
I think Angle grinder or 30" bolt cutters would be like taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut.

Have a look at this

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

Are Am Eye

From experience not everything works out as easy as a youtube video
always in real life. Now a small little cutter like that might work. But it
might not. Why take a chance.

I just think you want to come along and snip it quickly and be about
your business. The last thing you want is to be sweating and hacking
away at it with people gathering watching you.

The Law of the Lever or don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

Eamonnator

I don't think a €2 lock qualifies as a gun fight.

Are Am Eye

Eamonnator wrote: »

I don't think a €2 lock qualifies as a gun fight.

If you cut cut the lock with a little weed pruner then you'd open it
with a bar and brute force. Which begs the question why did the lock
survive a theft attempt. Why fcuk around trying to pick the lock when
if it's so weak and could be cut so easy.

eeguy

Easy. Get a group of 4 or 5 lads to stand around and make fun of you. No one is going to think you're a thief.

yermanoffthetv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Yp6xXp7Po

If the lock is a €2 job then 2 spanners and hey presto. Ive done this myself with an old shed lock. You could ring the local Garda station to cover yourself but I doubt they'll care being honest. I rang them when 2 teenagers were skulking around the side of my house and they ended up being snappy at me for ringing them!

iwillhtfu

If it' a cheap lock as you say this will go straight through it. You'll pick one up in a tool shop over here either.

https://www.ie.screwfix.com/forge-steel-cable-cutter-8-210mm.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAsejRBRB3EiwAZft7sOykVGLLuUaF8iWhynMKsqwisbXjA_5kj3yhhv7O1xYIwVGNZ0bPvRoCSVsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds



No need for crowds notification etc you'll be gone in 2 mins. Buy yourself a decent lock if you plan on keeping your bike. Those cable locks are for coffee stops and a quick trip to the shop.

listermint

If it's a 2 euro lock I could pull the bike in about three attempts and walk off with it. No tools or anything.

Try even flipping it a few times to snap it.

two wheels good

If you want to avoid buying a wire cutters you can borrow mine. I can meet you in city centre some lunchtime. PM me if necessary. (Wouldn't a karate chop do it?)

Arcade_Tryer

Wear a suit.

nak

I had to cut a lock off my bike in Dublin city centre; Saturday afternoon on a busy street,
took about 30 mins to cut it open and not one passer by questioned it.

irishrover99

Just don't say, all right bud,it's cool and have a johnny blue hanging out of your mouth when doing it. And maybe don't wear a baseball hat as well

ted1

Just pull the bike, those two Euro locks are very poor quality. The lock should break.

Grassey

ted1 wrote:

Just pull the bike, those two Euro locks are very poor quality. The lock should break.

Or stick a bar through the loop and twist for tension. Should pop the lock.

magicbastarder

to echo what the others were saying - i know a chap who "broke into" a house via the front door near landsdowne road, on match day, in full sight of uniformed gardai. he was wearing a hi-vis jacket. he drilled out the lock.

Grassey

magicbastarder wrote: »

to echo what the others were saying - i know a chap who "broke into" a house via the front door near landsdowne road, on match day, in full sight of uniformed gardai. he was wearing a hi-vis jacket. he drilled out the lock.

High vis does make you magically invisible though

https://www.vice.com/en_nz/article/mgv4gn/chalecos-reflectantes-entrar-gratis

Fireball XL5

I must admit to being a bit perplexed by the responses on this thread and even more perplexed that the mods consider it a reasonable subject to discuss. You can't give medical advice but you can give advice on how to steal a bike?




Having a look at the guidelines link in the charter I see the following listed as FORBIDDEN -

"How to do illegal things (this ranges from software piracy, to swindling the Revenue Commissioners)"

On that basis surely this thread is completely out of order? Could I start a thread titled "How to steal a bike" ?

The OP is asking for advice on how to get his bike unlocked.

I'd imagine anyone that steals bikes is probably already clued in enough that they won't be surfing Boards in the middle of the night looking for clues.

Grassey

Is breaking the lock on a bike you own illegal now?

SuperSean11

JackieChang wrote: »

I bought it from Adverts. Just checked the ad and the seller has removed the photo for some reason.

https://www.adverts.ie/hybrid-bikes/hybrid-bike-bargain/12422263

The advert is still there but it's useless without a pic.

I've no other proof of ownership. I thought I had a photo of it.

I'll probably ask a garda to stand next to me whenever I find a set of bolt cutters.

So it’s a stolen bike lock...

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

uck51js9zml2yt

Get a hi viz printed with "I'm not a bike thief" on the back.

Informing the guards of your plan to break out your own bike is probably a wise course of action.*



* I prefer my first suggestion

Jeff2

Grassey wrote: »

Or stick a bar through the loop and twist for tension. Should pop the lock.

That could actually bent the frame on some bikes.

Funny thread, if you hit those locks be mistake with a hacksaw you could cut it open.

worded

JackieChang wrote: »

My bike lock was tampered with and I can't get the key into it. It's locked up on a very busy street.

Any advice? I don't have any tools that can cut through it. The barrel seems damaged so I don't think a lock smith will get in there either.

It's a cable/wire sort of lock, not too robust. I'd say a good solid fence cutter would get through it.

I'm in Cork city it that matters.

If it’s cable and you can get it ground level an axe will cut it

Fireball XL5

Deleted User wrote: »

The OP is asking for advice on how to get his bike unlocked.

I'd imagine anyone that steals bikes is probably already clued in enough that they won't be surfing Boards in the middle of the night looking for clues.

Why take the chance?

Clearly the forum guidelines in relation to illegality count for nothing.

You can't ask for or give the most modest of medical advice before , you can't give even the most oblique hint of a spoiler but you sure can suggest ways to steal a bike.

Well done mods - highly impressive doublethink there. :mad:

bucketybuck

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

I must admit to being a bit perplexed by the responses on this thread and even more perplexed that the mods consider it a reasonable subject to discuss. You can't give medical advice but you can give advice on how to steal a bike?




Having a look at the guidelines link in the charter I see the following listed as FORBIDDEN -

"How to do illegal things (this ranges from software piracy, to swindling the Revenue Commissioners)"

On that basis surely this thread is completely out of order? Could I start a thread titled "How to steal a bike" ?

Its illegal to cut a chain you own? Its illegal to pick a lock you own? Its illegal to remove a bike you own?

Any chance you could explain your logic here or how anything the OP wants to do is actually illegal?

Fireball XL5

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

Why take the chance?

Clearly the forum guidelines in relation to illegality count for nothing.

You can't ask for or give the most modest of medical advice before , you can't give even the most oblique hint of a spoiler but you sure can suggest ways to steal a bike.

Well done mods - highly impressive doublethink there. :mad:

Medical and legal advice makes sense because if someone does something, like take viagra to help with their high blood pressure, and then they have a heart attack, they can come swinging punches at boards saying 'i was advised on boards that i should do x and y'.

Of course its ludicrous to assume that boards themselves would be responsible and i'd imagine it'd be laughed out of a court room if it ever got that far, but why waste the time and energy with it.


Opening a bike lock is not the same thing. In fact, I could be wrong, but i think there is a forum dedicated to lock picking on boards?

JackieChang

Talked to a couple of guards passing by today. They asked to have a look at the bike, probably "reading" me as I showed them. Anyway they said they'd stand beside me as I broke it off. It's up to me to find the tools, they can't help me with that.

What? You still haven't got it 2 days later? Never mind telling the guards, go down and get it before someone else breaks the lock. :P

JackieChang

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

I must admit to being a bit perplexed by the responses on this thread and even more perplexed that the mods consider it a reasonable subject to discuss. You can't give medical advice but you can give advice on how to steal a bike?




Having a look at the guidelines link in the charter I see the following listed as FORBIDDEN -

"How to do illegal things (this ranges from software piracy, to swindling the Revenue Commissioners)"

On that basis surely this thread is completely out of order? Could I start a thread titled "How to steal a bike" ?

I can't believe you're getting stressed out by this. Smileys and all. Are you serious?

If I really wanted to steal a bike, with a €2 Shop lock, do you think I'd go to boards for advice? To the CYCLING FORUM? LoL :pac:

You're just trying to stir **** is all. Must be a boring night at home there.

By the way, best way to do it is probably go down there at about 4.30am with a massive bolt cutters and scarf wrapped around your face and just take it. I don't want to get in trouble though.

ED E

There are TWO people in the country you need to watch out for. Joe from DLB and the mechanic from 360 Cycles. Nobody else with bother you taking a bike. As both are in Dublin, you could just take it.

Nobody stops bike thieves.

Fireball XL5

Just to explain my thinking on this -

firstly there is a clear assumption on the part of the posters that the OP actually owns the bike. How do any of the posters , or the mods know this to be the case? He may or may not be the owner but nobody knows. Asking people on a public forum how to break a lock or identify the weak point of a lock knowing you will get answers seems to me to be a great idea for an enterprising individual.

secondly there also appears to be an assumption that only scumbags who can't read steal bikes and that boards.ie readers do not or are not capable of considering the theft a bike

thirdly there is an assumption that the bike thief will always get through no matter what - this may well be true but is it appropriate to encourage and help them?

fourthly there is a comprehensive thread here on which many people whose bikes have been stolen have expressed their anger/ rage/ frustration at their belongings having been stolen - providing information to potential thieves seems unlikely to provide those people with much comfort. I have been the victim of bike theft myself in the past and seeing this kind of information on a public forum really irritates me.

fifthly and most importantly to my mind is the clear breach of boards.e own guidelines. I have seen many posters being put down in in a most direct and blunt way for asking innocent questions or making relatively innocent statements. It is this doublethink in particular that really gets my goat.

If boards wants to publish information which facilitates theft (real or potential) and this information contradicts its own guidelines then good luck to them - but that being the case then spare me the moralising tone and comments from the mods when they see something that they don't like - I can't stand that kind of hypocrisy. For hypocrisy it clearly is.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Arcade_Tryer wrote: »

Wear a suit.

Sure if you're going to wear a suit you may as well rob the country, like the last shower did

bucketybuck

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

but that being the case then spare me the moralising tone

Indeed.

Can you please clarify what illegal action the OP was requesting advice for?

Fireball XL5

bucketybuck wrote: »

Indeed.

Can you please clarify what illegal action the OP was requesting advice for?

Please read my posts a little more carefully. You might wish to reconsider your question when you do.

bucketybuck

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

Please read my posts a little more carefully. You might wish to reconsider your question when you do.

Its such a simple question, and yet still unanswered.

magicbastarder

Fireball XL5 wrote: »

Clearly the forum guidelines in relation to illegality count for nothing.

there is nothing illegal about destroying your own lock?

conflating this with the rules on medical advice seems wrong-headed IMHO. the issue of legality is not relevant in the latter situation; that's about being qualified to give advice which should only be given by qualified people.

i'm happy enough to take the OP at his word. as others have pointed out, it'd be a strange bike thief who comes online to ask how to destroy a cheap lock.
this is not like (for example) asking how to clock a car - an act which in and of itself, is illegal. in this situation, it's the context which would make it illegal and there's no suggestion that's the context in which the question is being asked.

Fireball XL5

magicbastarder wrote: »

there is nothing illegal about destroying your own lock?

How do you know it his his own lock or did you not read my post either?

Fact is you do not know and are making assumptions.

As the old saying goes - assumption is the mother of all f**k ups.

Type 17

Definitely a case of "locks only keep honest people out" - the OP isn't sure of how to open a €2 lock, and is asking on here, so it's pretty unlikely that he's a bike thief.

Actual bike thieves already know how to open locks, so any information discussed here will only be news to those who have no intention of using it.

I've been asked many times to remove locks for customers who've lost their keys, or whose lock has been damaged by failed theft attempts, and if we don't know them too well, we ask them to nip over to the Garda station (conveniently across the road) and let them know what's going to be happening, and where - no one has ever declined to go over and do it, or disappeared (real thieves would never involve us), but we do like to cover ourselves in case someone tries to report us "in the act", but no one ever has - no one cares: Our method involves lots of noise and showers of sparks , and I've done it on a few occasions outside the row of shops in the local area, and no one has said anything...

JackieChang

Type 17 wrote: »

Definitely a case of "locks only keep honest people out" - the OP isn't sure of how to open a €2 lock, and is asking on here, so it's pretty unlikely that he's a bike thief.

Actual bike thieves already know how to open locks, so any information discussed here will only be news to those who have no intention of using it.

I've been asked many times to remove locks for customers who've lost their keys, or whose lock has been damaged by failed theft attempts, and if we don't know them too well, we ask them to nip over to the Garda station (conveniently across the road) and let them know what's going to be happening, and where - no one has ever declined to go over and do it, or disappeared (real thieves would never involve us), but we do like to cover ourselves in case someone tries to report us "in the act", but no one ever has - no one cares: Our method involves lots of noise and showers of sparks , and I've done it on a few occasions outside the row of shops in the local area, and no one has said anything...

OP here, you work in a hardware shop I guess? How much do you charge?