A sad state of affairs

[raleighnut]

That's the way our country is now, bikes (and cyclists for that matter) are not valued in 'normal' society (from Grayling down) and until that attitude changes we're farked when anything happens.

 

[screenman]

I'd certainly be changing my home insurance company £300 excess that's a bigger crime than the bike theft imo !

I think you will find the customer took a lower price which meant a higher excess.

 

[mjr]

I think you will find the customer took a lower price which meant a higher excess.

The policy might also specify that the bike has to be locked to a proper cycle park with a certified SuperSecure™ lock and the act was witnessed by all your grandparents who were photographed doing so and that photo notarised as a true likeness by a person of authority!

Anyway... police attitudes to cycle theft vary. Norfolk's is average, attending thefts in some form and fairly keen to act on reports of thefts in progress. Essex is near London and Cambridge where it's probably fairly easy to sell hot bikes and if their police don't care much, thieves will know that and take a white van over to restock.

Use two locks of different types, at least one of London grade, each through a different wheel, a frame triangle and the parking stand. It's not infallible, but it probably makes a cheapish bike more trouble than it's worth and more trouble than the 70% (warning: guess!) of bikes secured by a dental floss cable lock through only the frame and round a post.

 

[Accy cyclist]

At the local police station they keep the stolen bikes in an outside area in full view of the public,protected only by a 5ft fence. If you fancy a cheapo bike the invitation's there!

 

[Dor]

My recent experience with Police Scotland is completely different.
It was only a (my bike), stolen from the official work bike park (no cctv) along with a few others.
The policeman in charge of the case has been in contact via email, has explained to me that he is investigating.
He also told me that his team has to attend 999 calls, so whatever progress they can make will take time.
He told me that, should I see my bike again with or without rider I should call the police and they will try to come.
In this current climate of cut backs I don't think I could ask for more in relation to a bike theft.
I even got a call from crime victim support, bless.
So, in this matter, Police Scotland rocks

Yes so in fact they aren't actually doing anything really are they, except firing off an Email with a vague promise to possibly do something.

 

[Drago]

If they did just did a finger print search on the national data base, surely that wouldn't cost £4000?

DNA would be more likely to get a hit, and yes it does. Those marks need extracting and processing by someone, and it costs money.

You can thank the Government for closing the Forensic Science Service, into which each Force paid a yearly subscription and then accessed it as required. Now it goes to private firms who charge per job, and the cost of retrieving such evidence to an unchallengeable evidential standard for Court is what it is when it's in the hands of a business who's mission is to maximise shareholder profit. No one is going to authorise the expense for a summary offence. I wouldn't, and didn't.

 

[MarkF]

It's a minor crime and I don't know what the police are supposed to do really......... to please everyone. I had some stolen out of my garage in 2008 and if I hadn't have needed a crime number then I'd have preferred not to have involved the police, it was right palaver, they visited my house a few times and followed that up with trail of daft, box ticking paperwork for me to get stuck into. A waste of my time and theirs.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co....olen_from_cycle_cross_racer_at_event_in_city/

 

[screenman]

The policy might also specify that the bike has to be locked to a proper cycle park with a certified SuperSecure™ lock and the act was witnessed by all your grandparents who were photographed doing so and that photo notarised as a true likeness by a person of authority!

That is different to what is on my policy, however I do not shop around for the cheapest but look for what I consider good value.

Nobody ever regrets buying quality.

 

[screenman]

DNA would be more likely to get a hit, and yes it does. Those marks need extracting and processing by someone, and it costs money.

You can thank the Government for closing the Forensic Science Service, into which each Force paid a yearly subscription and then accessed it as required. Now it goes to private firms who charge per job, and the cost of retrieving such evidence to an unchallengeable evidential standard for Court is what it is when it's in the hands of a business who's mission is to maximise shareholder profit. No one is going to authorise the expense for a summary offence. I wouldn't, and didn't.

How were they losing £2,000,000 a month? surely somebody was not doing their job correctly. I need educating on how a private company can make a profit and a public service loses that much.

 

[ozboz]

My GF had her Cube knicked , it went on Gumtree and was sold within an hour os so , she investigated it herself , found the culprit ,phone number , photo location the lot the police arrested him , bailed him , then an on shift Sergeant decided that there was
Not enough evidence ?
And dropped it , the same scrot is still knicking bikes in West London ., laughing at the law ,
Its an effin joke !!
They cannot even look after their own , on an MTB site a couple of years ago , a copper had his exxy MTB knicked off his roof rack ,
Within the police station car park !!
No hope for us !!

 

[Tim Hall]

The policy might also specify that the bike has to be locked to a proper cycle park with a certified SuperSecure™ lock and the act was witnessed by all your grandparents who were photographed doing so and that photo notarised as a true likeness by a person of authority!

Anyway... police attitudes to cycle theft vary. Norfolk's is average, attending thefts in some form and fairly keen to act on reports of thefts in progress. Essex is near London and Cambridge where it's probably fairly easy to sell hot bikes and if their police don't care much, thieves will know that and take a white van over to restock.

Use two locks of different types, at least one of London grade, each through a different wheel, a frame triangle and the parking stand. It's not infallible, but it probably makes a cheapish bike more trouble than it's worth and more trouble than the 70% (warning: guess!) of bikes secured by a dental floss cable lock through only the frame and round a post.

What is a "London Grade" lock?

 

[mjr]

What is a "London Grade" lock?

Something that I'd use two of, if I was locking a bike up in London for more than a couple of minutes and I wanted to see it again. Probably one of the http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/ recommendations.

 

[Tim Hall]

Something that I'd use two of, if I was locking a bike up in London for more than a couple of minutes and I wanted to see it again. Probably one of the http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/ recommendations.

Useful list, thanks.

 

[Markymark]

What is a "London Grade" lock?

It's like any other lock except with greater intelligence, sex appeal and influence.

 

[User16625]

Do we really need a police force? If our house is on fire the local fire brigade turn up and fight the fire. If we have an accident the ambulance service takes us to hospital. If we are a victim of crime the police give us a crime number so we can claim off our insurance. Anti-terrorist work can be dealt with by the military, so do we really need police in modern day Britain?

Yes, otherwise people who register their cars and have legal documentation will end up driving 75mph on a motorway. This is obviously unacceptable.

On second thoughts, that process is widely automated now.

I guess the reason we need police now is to prosecute victims of crime for their retaliation. Like if OP found out who that thief was and butchered him and fed him to her dog.