Is it this easy to steal a bike?

Bog Standard User · 27-10-2013 07:45PM

my bike was stolen in galway once... a week later i spotted the cheeky fcuker cycling it down shop street so i put out my arm and clothes lined him clean off the bike... he called the gardai and when i produced the insurance documents i had with the serial number matching the bike the gardai done yer man for bike theft lol i still have the bike

i won the bike... there is no other bike like it cos it has stickers all over it advertising the place where i won it. so i no doubt it was mine when i saw the thief on it.

wexie · 27-10-2013 09:52PM

2 of my female housemates once decided to steal a bike, unfortunately they couldnt get the lock open.
So they decided to just lift the backwheel and carry it home and get one of the lads to remove the lock.

Halfway home a policecar pulled up next to them and asked were they okay and did they need a hand.
One of the girls burst out in tears, the other start telling this bull**** story about how they're worried (it's late and dark) and they lost the key to their bike lock.

Police officer goes....oh....okay....hang on. Gets out the car, opens boot, takes out bolt cutters. Snip!!

'Now you girls be careful on the way home okay, it's dark and there's lots of dodgy characters around. Take care now!'

UCDVet · 27-10-2013 10:00PM

wexie wrote: »

2 of my female housemates once decided to steal a bike, unfortunately they couldnt get the lock open.
So they decided to just lift the backwheel and carry it home and get one of the lads to remove the lock.

Halfway home a policecar pulled up next to them and asked were they okay and did they need a hand.
One of the girls burst out in tears, the other start telling this bull**** story about how they're worried (it's late and dark) and they lost the key to their bike lock.

Police officer goes....oh....okay....hang on. Gets out the car, opens boot, takes out bolt cutters. Snip!!

'Now you girls be careful on the way home okay, it's dark and there's lots of dodgy characters around. Take care now!'

100% this.

If you are sober, have all your teeth and are dressed like an 'average' person; you can just say, 'I lost my key' and people will help you steal the bike. Some guys made a YouTube video of them doing this in New York, in broad daylight. They just pulled out a hacksaw and went to town on the chain for 10 minutes. Almost nobody even talked to them, a few people would say, 'Is that your bike?' and they'd say, 'Yeah - but I've lost my key'.

endacl · 28-10-2013 03:07AM

In the Old West, they'd hang you for stealing a man's horse.

That's all I have to say on the subject...

Victor · 28-10-2013 03:16AM

http://dublincycling.com/AvoidTheThief

Mr. Chrome · 28-10-2013 03:33AM

Is it true a D lock can be opened with a car jack?

endacl · 28-10-2013 03:46AM

Mr. Chrome wrote: »

Is it true a D lock can be opened with a car jack?

Some D locks can be opened with some car jacks. Some can be opened with a biro. Some (as in OP) can be opened with the bike it's supposed to protect. All can be opened by scumbags. There is no such thing as a scumbag-proof lock. The object is go make the bike less attractive than the one next door. The scumbag will always leave with a bike. The trick is to make sure it's not your bike.

brokenarms · 28-10-2013 03:53AM

I got this one after studying the market

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnum-ONGUARD-Pitbull-Security-LK8005/dp/B00AW8YPHO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1382928120&sr=8-5&keywords=ONGUARD+Brute

Its one tough piece of kit.

And cheaper that the Halfords junk which cost a fortune and the Kyptonite locks which offer the same security but cost more.
Plus if your bike get nicked , they will buy you a new one.

endacl · 28-10-2013 03:55AM

brokenarms wrote: »

I got this one after studying the market

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnum-ONGUARD-Pitbull-Security-LK8005/dp/B00AW8YPHO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1382928120&sr=8-5&keywords=ONGUARD+Brute

Its one tough piece of kit.

And cheaper that the Halfords junk which cost a fortune and the Kyptonite locks which offer the same security but cost more.
Plus if your bike get nicked , they will buy you a new one.

A 25 quid lock won't stop a scummer. 2 locks + correct technique is the minimum standard.

Unfortunately...

brokenarms · 28-10-2013 04:03AM

endacl wrote: »

A 25 quid lock won't stop a scummer. 2 locks + correct technique is the minimum standard.

Unfortunately...

Agreed but it still takes quite a bit of effort to get through a thick U lock.

http://gizmodo.com/5922074/the-best-bike-lock

Would love to carry 2, but you have to weigh up how practical it is to lug around all this heavy metal.

Is it this easy to steal a bike?

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