Me 1 - 0 Scumbags

rinko
rinko Posts: 45
edited July 2009 in Commuting chat
Just managed to stop my mate's bike being nicked from the carpark outside the office.

Spotted two lads walking through the business park and thought the didn't fit in - so wandered through the office to see where they were off to. They made a bee line straight for the cycle rack and one crouched down in front of the bike whilst the other leaned over the top of it.

So I sprinted down the stairs whilst shouting at the bikes owner that someone was nicking his bike and went out to challenge them. They didn't move until I was standing over them doing my best "Yes I am 6'4 and 16 stone, do you want to find out if I play rugby and box in my spare time" impression.

They toddled off, but on closer inspection had clearly had a go at cutting through his cable lock (he has learnt his lesson now and will be buying a D-lock tonight). His bike and mine are both now inside the office (two other souls are chancing leaving outside).

Still shaking from the adrenaline rush ... bloody glad they just wandered off as my mate whose bike it was, was a little slow off the mark getting out to back me up.

Think it's time to buy a second Kryptonie D-lock for the office, just to make it pointless even looking at my bike!

Comments

  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    Top marks Rinko! :D
  • Fireblade96
    Fireblade96 Posts: 1,123
    Good job !

    I *hate* thieves, possibly more than any other sort of criminal. Especially bike thieves. I'd very happily break all their fingers, slowly and with great relish. :twisted:

    My good bikes never leave my sight, so sadly don't get used as much as the commuter-bike, which deliberately looks like a pile of poo.

    it's a Q-bike though....don't misunderestimate ((c) G.W.B) its ability....
    Misguided Idealist
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    Well done on stopping them - but shouldn't you report this to the police?
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • rinko
    rinko Posts: 45
    edited July 2009
    Well done on stopping them - but shouldn't you report this to the police?

    We have on site security for the business park who we called and they have informed the Police.

    Turns out (on speaking to said security) that the office opposite ours had a bike stolen yesterday and they were in the process of sending out notices to all of the business in the area to warn them.

    To be honest - realising that he only had a cable lock which they would have cut in a few seconds my only thought was immediate intervention - next time the police will be the first call, then all the big lads in the office for a bit of "pile on" possibly?
  • Roougers
    Roougers Posts: 36
    Its the brazeness of your Common or Garden scumbag these days that often surprises me, at least run off FFS, but no no, they want a big 'off' for attempting to nick your bike.

    It wasnt like that in the Krays day :?
  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    Hmmm, top quality security you have then, we're they too busy watching Trisha on the portable?
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • Deadeye Duck
    Deadeye Duck Posts: 419
    I worry about ending up in those situations because I'm either on one side of the coin, or the other.

    I'll either call the police and stay within the safety of the building, maybe shout out of a window, or I'd go down there, picking up whatever solid portable object I find on the way, and go out and lamp 'em both with it while screaming my head off.
    Schwinn Fastback Comp : FCN 5
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  • dilemna
    dilemna Posts: 2,187
    It raises the question of why your company is paying for security when you are doing their job for them? Why didn't you restrain them until security came by and the police turned up? Maybe CCTV is now a priority. I wouldn't bother with Kryptonite locks as my New Yorker D was broken apparently easily by thieves. The only make I use now is ABUS Granit Extreme and X-PLUS. Anything else is just an imitation of a secure lock.
    Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
    Think how stupid the average person is.......
    half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
  • iclestu
    iclestu Posts: 503
    Rinko wrote:
    Think it's time to buy a second Kryptonie D-lock for the office, just to make it pointless even looking at my bike!

    Great idea!

    Use one to lock up your bike and the other one to beat the feckers with!
    FCN 7: Dawes Galaxy Ultra 2012 - sofa-like comfort to eat up the miles

    Reserve: 2010 Boardman CX Pro
  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    dilemna wrote:
    It raises the question of why your company is paying for security when you are doing their job for them? Why didn't you restrain them until security came by and the police turned up? Maybe CCTV is now a priority. I wouldn't bother with Kryptonite locks as my New Yorker D was broken apparently easily by thieves. The only make I use now is ABUS Granit Extreme and X-PLUS. Anything else is just an imitation of a secure lock.

    'tis a noble idea, unfortunately these scrotes WILL have been "tooled-up" and probably wouldn't think too long and hard about jabbing you in the ribs with a screwdriver, adding the fact that there were 2 of them plus the fact that "security" probably amounts to a couple of 25 stone 65 year old retired coppers who could take an hour or two to climb out of their swivel chairs and make their way over, I reckon the OP did all he could.
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • rinko
    rinko Posts: 45
    dilemna wrote:
    It raises the question of why your company is paying for security when you are doing their job for them? Why didn't you restrain them until security came by and the police turned up? Maybe CCTV is now a priority. I wouldn't bother with Kryptonite locks as my New Yorker D was broken apparently easily by thieves. The only make I use now is ABUS Granit Extreme and X-PLUS. Anything else is just an imitation of a secure lock.
    It is a fair point about the security. The ones we have on site are not quite all 65 y/o ex Police, but it is a fairly large site they cover and tbh I think ther are there as more of a deterrant and central point of contact for everyone on the site.

    As Robomanic1 said, it was 2v1 and at the end of the day, it wasn't my bike being nicked so I wasn't really willing to risk a confrontation. The one guy certainly had some sort of "tool", which again made me keep my distance.

    I will grab an ABUS instead, if the Kryptonite was so easily defeated. I know some of the older ones had problems with the locks being easy to pick. Fingers crossed they wouldn't be able to do both locks quickly or quietly.