Security..

fallingoff

What do most people do about security?
If it happens that your bike gets "removed" what plans do you have in place?
I've registered my new bike with Specialized but I don't suppose they can or will do a lot about finding it.
Is there a national register for bikes? Can security etching be performed at your LBS/police station,or is it something that can be done DIY....I would really appreciate any advice.
If I'm not on it it's locked away in my back garden shed away from prying eye's and I don't live in a high crime area but you just have to give these div's an inch..
Thanks......

John.T

When you are out on it try to leave it where you can see it at cafes. Get a wire lock. It does not weigh much, would not stop a serious attempt at taking it, but may persuade them to take a different one.

sungod

insurance

five months ago my marin got nicked, lock cut off, at lunchtime, in a busy area with cctv and private security, bike racks right outside santander's london hq

it was registered on two different databases, no use

it was rf tagged, no use

found the thief's advert on gumtree, already sold, but advertising other bikes with the same phone number, no use - police "too busy" to investigate, i.e. police certainly no use, feels like in london they only investigate crimes against the rich

insurance

insurance

did i mention insurance?

ductions

I am lucky enough to not have had a bike stolen yet, but I've just got my more expensive bike insured for when I take it to uni. I stuck it on my contents insurance for an extra £30.

I'm with the Pru (don't ask why) but I think people around here would advise you get contents insurance with M&S and get your bikes covered under that.

At uni I get to store my bike in an underground car park, but when I'm out and about I use a kryptonite D-lock (the grey one) with a cable around my front wheel.

Erudin

The Shed Shackle is good for sheds, use it with a heavy chain and alarmed padlock (eg kabrus).

kayakerchris

If I am going out for a weekend rife I try to take some cable ties with me. weighs nothing but a good one will stop the passerby who just picks it up and walks off.

ride_whenever

insurance and keep the bikes in the house.

For quick stops (at the cafe etc. where you are very close and can see it) i use an alarmed disc lock (crank to chainstay) it'll stop someone and you'll hear if they move your bike.

brin

ductions wrote:

I am lucky enough to not have had a bike stolen yet, but I've just got my more expensive bike insured for when I take it to uni. I stuck it on my contents insurance for an extra £30.

I'm with the Pru (don't ask why) but I think people around here would advise you get contents insurance with M&S and get your bikes covered under that.

At uni I get to store my bike in an underground car park, but when I'm out and about I use a kryptonite D-lock (the grey one) with a cable around my front wheel.

You don't say how much your more expensive bike costs, but if you read your insurance policy with the pru you will find they only insure bikes up to £1000. I was with them for years, but when i upgraded i asked if they could increase insurance cover but they couldn't. As mentioned M&S is a better option.

meanredspider

+1 for insurance.

The other thing with security marking (my brother used to have a Theifbeater franchise) is that you have to make it bloody obvious that the bike is marked - stickers all over it. It puts off the criminal because it makes it harder for them to claim they didn't know it was stolen and it makes it harder to shift. And, like the lock, it'll encourage them to nick a different bike instead.

fallingoff

Thanks for the advice,hopefuly I won't need it...

fallingoff

Stanley222 wrote:

Register it here buddy

http://www.immobilise.com/

Along with your mobile, ipod etc, etc!

If found by police or someone is stopped in possession of something the police suspect to be stolenit's one of the first places they check

Registerd,is it worth getting these anti tamper warning barcode stickers?
Do they work as they say or are they just a deterrent?
Thanks again.

Rouge Penguin

Ive got a Road and MTB in the garage, which isnt attached to the flats. Recently, some shits ripped up the tinfoil garage door, but either got disturbed or couldnt be arsed trying to get the bikes.

Both are locked to full individial patio heater gas bottles and then to each other, and also now protected by a remote control rechargeable alarm with motion sensor (only £100 or so).

If they want to go through all that effort, then take them. Theyre insured.

fallingoff

I bought them anyway,everything helps I suppose...cheers..

ductions

brin wrote:

ductions wrote:

I am lucky enough to not have had a bike stolen yet, but I've just got my more expensive bike insured for when I take it to uni. I stuck it on my contents insurance for an extra £30.

I'm with the Pru (don't ask why) but I think people around here would advise you get contents insurance with M&S and get your bikes covered under that.

At uni I get to store my bike in an underground car park, but when I'm out and about I use a kryptonite D-lock (the grey one) with a cable around my front wheel.

You don't say how much your more expensive bike costs, but if you read your insurance policy with the pru you will find they only insure bikes up to £1000. I was with them for years, but when i upgraded i asked if they could increase insurance cover but they couldn't. As mentioned M&S is a better option.

Bike was £650, so not an incredibly expensive bike, but it is to me.

StillGoing

Datatag Gold and log it on the property register, which is for all expensive equipment including phones, lap tops etc.

If you've seen your bike advertised from somewhere using a land-line telephone number, the police should follow it up although it could be a call box number. If it is a mobile, chances are it will be a PAYG that isn't registered. If it was advertised via the dreaded thief-bay, let the police know and ask them to contact e-bay for the seller's address details.

redjeepǃ

sungod wrote:

found the thief's advert on gumtree, already sold, but advertising other bikes with the same phone number, no use - police "too busy" to investigate, i.e. police certainly no use, feels like in london they only investigate crimes against the rich

quote]

Wouldn't you arrange to meet him to 'discuss' another bike he was selling ?

On the same subject, I have my roadbike chained to a reinforced concrete beam I made up in my garage. It weights a couple of hundred pounds and has 3 lengths of tubing through it (put them in before you pour the concrete ! ). I bought a hardened steel chain and a fairly serious lock from a local locksmith. I have a second chain to chain the beam to the garage wall.

Next time, I'll cut a hole in the garage floor and make up a loop of drainpipe to put the chain through, before backfilling the hole with cement.

sungod

Redjeep! wrote:

sungod wrote:

found the thief's advert on gumtree, already sold, but advertising other bikes with the same phone number, no use - police "too busy" to investigate, i.e. police certainly no use, feels like in london they only investigate crimes against the rich

quote]

Wouldn't you arrange to meet him to 'discuss' another bike he was selling ?
<...>
.

police refused to attend if i did it

if i go alone, i'm turning up tp buy someone else's stolen bike, then what? i've got no proof, and i'm on my own

so aside from getting some mates with iron bars to come along with me it didn't seem wise - anyone selling stolen bikes in bulk (at least 6 in this batch) isn't a casual criminal - didn't fancy getting stabbed, which is what has happened to a few others who tried it

redjeepǃ

Fair point.

Reality is always a bit different to the 'I'd turn up with half a dozen mates and beat the sh!te out of him' gut reaction.

cyberknight

My bikes are chained and locked to wall anchors in a locked garage and covered on insurance.

The only place i leave them is in the work bike shed which is locked during work times so no one can whip a bike without bringing industrial cutting gear onto a security monitored car park.Add to that i leave 2 d locks at work to lock them up.

Forget the police they do not have the man power or the inclination to chase bike thieves, in fact a lot of bike related stuff including gettign run over is not high on their "stuff that meets targets " list