Someone's locked my bike with a D lock, help!!!

superschan

Hi all,

I lock my bike to a bike rack and returned to find that it now has a second D lock on it. The bike rack was close to a shopping centre so I thought management there might have locked it since I left it there for a few days. However they told me that the bike rack is not part of the centre and I don't think it's the police or council as there is no notices attached to it. However, someone has suggested that it could be a bike thief who has locked my bike to ensure it stays there so they can come back in the small hours when they would have plenty of time to deal with my lock. The bike is not expensive but practically brand new which makes me think could make it a target. So what I want to ask is if anyone has heard of this method of bike theft and what would be the best way to remove that lock. I would like to remove it today preferably just in case it might get stolen if left overnight.

Thanks

ThatBikeGuy

Definitely sounds like a bike thief, classic tactic because they can come back anytime they want and break your lock off. Depending on the tools you have at your disposal, you could either have a go yourself at breaking their lock or try calling the police/fire brigade and see if they can help. Fire brigade would be more useful as they have specialist equipment albeit not for breaking bike locks!

Don't leave your bike there overnight.

sandyballs

Have seen this posted before, it is a method that scum use to steal bikes. Inform the police and go back as soon as possible with kit to remove the second lock or the scum will.

T00THBRU5H

Where is this?

If it's in west London I will happily camp out in a dark corner whilst waiting for them, then proceed to batter them to death with my own D-lock.

superschan

Thanks for all the replies (especially the offer to batter the culprit, unfortunately the bike's in East London), have called the police but they said they can only file a case and can't help me cut the lock. A bit late now to go buy tools however youtube has suggested that a car jack might work, might try it later anyone got better ideas?

rubertoe

If there is a Fire station near by, pop in their and have chat.

Like someone else has said, get it done now and don't leave it too long.

thistle_

If it's a cheap, thin D lock would bolt cutters get through it? Maybe an angle grinder if you can find a battery powered one that is powerful enough?

B&Q or Halfords might have some tools you could buy, or to save money is there anyone you could borrow them off?

Another thought, is there any way to dismantle the bike rack? Where I used the live, the bike racks were sheffield stands bolted to the ground so people used to come along, undo the bolts and slide the stand off the bike (presumably the bikes were locked with loose cable locks). Maybe there's something similar that would work in your case?

thistle_

As a last resort you could buy a D lock that comes with a warranty to cover the cost of replacing the bike and lock it up with that, and hopefully there will be enough pieces of the lock left to make a claim.

However if they can't take the whole bike they might strip as many parts off it as they could and smash the rest up out of spite.

nicklouse

As above relock it again.

But removed as much as you can before leaving it.

T00THBRU5H

Death of the thieves would guarantee this being resolved.

You can then take the keys off their corpses and you gain a D-Lock!

adamski_8

good idea getting another D lock and guarantee! there must be some bikeradar members that own power tools, try reposting in the general forum with a new topic and ask ppl to help out and get your bike back before its gone! I'm in SW London...happy to help batter the scum!

Headhuunter

So what happened in the end with this? Did you manage to get the lock off?

rubertoe

Not only did they steal the bike, it appears they have stolen the OP as well.

mbthegreat

Surprised the police didn't help, we managed to get them to remove an entire bike when some twat locked there's through my pal's to a stand.

goonz

superschan wrote:

Thanks for all the replies (especially the offer to batter the culprit, unfortunately the bike's in East London), have called the police but they said they can only file a case and can't help me cut the lock. A bit late now to go buy tools however youtube has suggested that a car jack might work, might try it later anyone got better ideas?

Where in east london mate?

ciaranodc

I'll share my story about this.

Same thing happened to me. Left bike over night locked up to railings by Leyton underground station. Never do this. :roll: Cheap piece of crap bike I bought for under £100 but looks a little flashy (Teman Pro 3.0 hybrid). Two D locks were attached to it. Kryptonite one to the frame and another one to the wheel. Saddle had been robbed as well. Called police asking for advice. They took a report of the theft of the saddle and when I asked could I take off their locks the guy was like "Yeah, I would". Got a crime reference number. They let the local police station know that I was going to do it.

So the next day I hired an angle grinder and bought a few of steel cutting disks. Luckily bike was still there. Got a mate and went to town on their locks. Only needed one disk in the end. Returned the rest. Whole thing came to less than £20. You just have to be quick about it. Satisfied now because those two locks would probably be about £40 or £50 together so scummy thieves lose.

Oh and by the way. We were cutting at rush hour, loads of people passing, sparks everywhere, quite obviously cutting locks, looked well dodgy, and literally nobody said a word. So be super careful with your bike. Especially if it's expensive.