36
votes
Accepted
How do you operate a used bike business without contributing to theft?
There's a local bike shop that has exactly this model. They buy bikes from walk-ins.
They recently got charged for receiving stolen goods from one guy who turned out to be a convicted burglar, who ...
- 131k
35
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
Warranties exist to protect you, the consumer, against defects in materials or workmanship, not against deliberate damage. The purpose of a bike lock is to help avoid your bike being stolen, so if it ...
- 13k
32
votes
Accepted
Safest way to store bike outside (city)
Not answering your actual question, but this might be useful to you.
To get a bike through narrow or awkward spaces, hold the handlebars and pull it up onto its rear wheel so it is pointing straight ...
- 75.9k
30
votes
Accepted
How can I prevent my next bike from being stolen?
That sucks. I'm sorry that your bike was stolen.
If thieves are willing to break into a locked garage, break into a locked and fully enclosed mesh bike parking area then cut two bike locks using ...
- 75.9k
23
votes
Accepted
Someone else's lock on my bike
Another option if you're planning on cutting the lock, and don't want to leave their bike unlocked:
Rent cutting tool and remove your bike
Lock the other bike with your lock
Find a good hiding place ...
- 346
22
votes
Someone else's lock on my bike
I've heard of this being a tactic to encourage you to accidentally leave your bike unlocked, so they can come back and steal your bike later, but on balance it could just as well be accidental.
If you ...
- 131k
21
votes
Accepted
Tracking my bike - How could a company offer a GPS location tracker with no recurrent service fee?
The description of that device is extremely confusing and actually nearly completely false.
The same device (GF-07) is widely available on the usual Chinese suspects (AliExpress, Temu, etc.) for a ...
- 326
19
votes
Safest way to store bike outside (city)
This depends a lot on the city; different cities allow you to lock up to different things, and have different crime rates.
For example, I've been to major European cities where a lot of the bikes ...
- 46.4k
19
votes
How can I prevent theft of mirrors?
Make your bike less accessible. Don't park it near where people walk past. Instead, park it down the row a little. Avoid parking it anywhere that will be in anyone's way—inconvenienced people ...
- 131k
17
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
Some locks offer "insurance" where you can get a payout if their lock fails to protect your bike.
Of course there are caveats like "lock must be used" and "thief must leave lock behind" (for ...
- 131k
17
votes
Found my stolen bike, what to do? (London, UK)
Call the police again.
If they say no again, ask at least for a log number, I'm nearly certain they should be able to give you one while you're still on the phone.
If you haven't previously reported ...
- 2,364
15
votes
How can I prevent theft of mirrors?
There's no permanent fix, nor is there anything truly theftproof.
In my experience, if a thief tries to steal something which is not easy to steal, they will just break it in fustration. Which will ...
- 3,349
14
votes
Accepted
Stolen chain/pedals: What might be the motive?
The motive is to steal the whole bike.
Since you cannot ride back without pedals or chain, they expect that you will leave the bike locked but unattended at night so they can finish up stealing it ...
- 1,741
14
votes
Tracking my bike - How could a company offer a GPS location tracker with no recurrent service fee?
GPS is a free service, but the backhaul is likely cellular based on the ad-copy.
Despite the text saying "No additional accessories necessary!" it is likely you have to fit a cellular SIM ...
- 131k
13
votes
Warranty on lock damaged during attempted theft
It still doesn't hurt to contact the manufacturer, but do not talk to as if they owe you anything.
Do an open inquiry and see if there's anything they can do.
Companies can actually do things out of ...
- 231
13
votes
Chain lock vs U lock harder to break?
U-locks are vulnerable to angle grinders, which are noisy and slower, but also to nail guns, which are extremely fast.
Here is a video showing someone destroying a U-lock with a nail-gun that uses .22 ...
- 17.4k
12
votes
How can I prevent my next bike from being stolen?
I lost a few bikes to theft when I was in university. It stunk.
I took to buying used bikes (probably from bike thieves).
I wrapped the frame tubes of my (otherwise nice) bike in peelable masking ...
- 291
11
votes
How can I prevent my next bike from being stolen?
There's nothing you can do if the storage area is not under constant surveillance.
It can take as little as 2 minutes to grind a U-Lock.
The only real solution is to keep your bike in your apartment....
- 1,741
11
votes
How can I prevent my next bike from being stolen?
Funny enough, the parking garage may actually be less safe than a well-exposed outside location. When I was commuting between the cities of Hamburg and Berlin I locked my (500/1000$) bikes at the ...
- 1,767
11
votes
Someone else's lock on my bike
Destroy the offending lock. You are wasting time and energy worrying about his feelings when it was his mistake that cost you time and money.
- 261
10
votes
Accepted
What do you do if you find your stolen bike's frame on ebay?
To determine if the bike is indeed yours, you could contact the seller and ask for more information about the bike and for more pictures in the hope that you'll get one with a visible identifying mark....
- 75.9k
10
votes
Safest way to store bike outside (city)
I successfully keep a cheap old bike in a theft-prone area.
I'm on my second in 4 years because the first deteriorated, not because it was stolen. I use a good D-lock (it cost about as much as the ...
- 62.6k
10
votes
How do you operate a used bike business without contributing to theft?
You might also talk with your local law enforcement (and pawn shops) to see what they would recommend as a deterrent against people trying to sell stolen equipment. They deal with a much broader ...
- 201
9
votes
How do you operate a used bike business without contributing to theft?
If you want to operate such a business and keep a clear conscience,
what do you do?
In short: That's easy-peasy: you accept only donated parts/bikes, or require for proof of purchase (so you are safe ...
- 3,770
9
votes
How can a D-lock be bent inward by a thief?
Power of the lever. A long pry bar though the lock and twist. Pole provides counter resistance. Bike frame and other bits in the middle of the lock either moves out the way or gets damaged.
- 53.1k
8
votes
Accepted
Why would anyone steal a bike computer off of a bike?
I guess there are various different motivations as already pointed out in the comments:
Vandalism. Stealing the bike computer is easy and fast, doesn't require equipment. Lamps (even attached with ...
- 1,043
8
votes
Accepted
How did my stolen carbon frame bike get from D.C. to Guatamala?
There is a large community of people from or born to people from Central America that live in the DC area. The largest group has ties to El Salvador. Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/...
8
votes
Why would someone steal my rear derailleur and hanger?
Some thieves will intentionally disable a bike so that it can’t be ridden home. Then they’ll come later in the day or evening with the appropriate tools to finish the job.
Often they’ll steal a ...
- 29.5k
8
votes
Found my stolen bike, what to do? (London, UK)
Report to the police and ask for instructions. They should be capable of telling what you are legally supposed and allowed to do. You will be asked to prove your ownership over the bicycle, maybe ...
- 8,134
8
votes
Chain lock vs U lock harder to break?
Depends totally on what tools your local bike thief is carrying at that moment.
If the miscreant has a jack/ram then the U lock can be forced apart quietly in a minute.
If the blaggard has an angle ...
- 131k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible