locking you bike to somebody else's

[semislickstick]

Someone did the same to me as Logan mentioned, not locked to mine, but in such a way that I needed the help of someone to jiggle the other bike up the lamp post and hold it up in the air to get mine out, took ages, there were other places this person could have locked their bike. Just annoying!

 

[Adrian_K]

I don't think I've been very clear.

My question is if you found someone had done it to you, would you then also lock the bikes together so they had to call you to get their bike unlocked. i.e. inconvenience them because they've inconvenience you or is that just vindictive?

No I wouldn't, and I would be pissed right off if someone inconsiderate dickhead locked his bike to mine. There is always a place to lock your bike and I have never had a problem at work, in town or in London in finding a spot to lock my bike up.

 

[summerdays]

If I couldn't lock it up to the stand only I would go and look for an alternative stand/railings/lamp post etc. I wouldn't lock my bike to someone I didn't know.

At school last week we locked up my son's bike in the morning and when he went to unlock it in the evening he came running back to get me to help. What I found was that someone had locked 2 bikes and 2 scooters to the neighbouring stand completely filling the space between the 2 stands and had then lost the key!!! Took a couple of adults to get my son's bike out. And no I didn't have any sympathy for the other bikes/scooters.

 

[summerdays]

I don't think I've been very clear.

My question is if you found someone had done it to you, would you then also lock the bikes together so they had to call you to get their bike unlocked. i.e. inconvenience them because they've inconvenience you or is that just vindictive?

Yes I would be tempted to lock both bikes together as at least you would know when they were about to release yours... but I think I would prefer to go down the route of getting the police to break the lock and release my bike if that was possible. I would probably be late back to pick up my children from school possibly.

 

[hackbike 666]

Or a bolt cutter.

 

[Oddjob62]

There was a "trend" among thieves, there prob still is, where they put their lock on your bike too when your away. Thus, hoping that you will leave your bike there overnight where upon they return with a nice big chain cutter, remove your and their own chain, and make off with your bike. This happend to me about 10years or so ago. Lucky enough I had access to a "nice big chain cutter" myself, and left their cut lock on the floor when i took my bike home.

Had the same thing happen to me about a year ago. Came out of my office on Friday evening to find my bike had an 'extra' lock. I guess Friday is a good time as most people will leave it over the weekend. Fortunately a couple of friendly PCSOs wandered past and helped me remove the offending item

 

[661-Pete]

Perhaps - in the light of what's been said here - my assertion that:

....in 99.9% of cases it is just that - a mistake).

may have been a bit premature!

If in doubt, if you suspect something - call the police. But don't expect them to turn out every time!

 

[-walsh-]

Id just remove the other lock myself. surprising how stupid people can be!

 

[ianrauk]

+1

But I did do it once by accident. Only noticed when I got back to my bike in the evening. Luckily no angry owner waiting...

Is a very inconsiderate thing to do and wouldn't dream of doing it.

 

[Jake]

Don't go cutting it off yourself, call the cops. You'll likely have to give lots of details, and prove it's your bike, but they should remove the offending bike and keep it safe till the less considerate owner misses it.

I do believe that is the correct procedure in this case, as it is a tactic used by thieves.

call the cops? come on, if you go in and report anyhing, they are to busy to do anything. by the time you find one which is open, wait and see someoene, the scallie has made off with your bike. It's dog eat dog out there. Cut their chain off and go with your bike.

 

[Jake]

Had the same thing happen to me about a year ago. Came out of my office on Friday evening to find my bike had an 'extra' lock. I guess Friday is a good time as most people will leave it over the weekend. Fortunately a couple of friendly PCSOs wandered past and helped me remove the offending item

good stuff lucky thing

 

[Ariadne]

I've heard of this happening - and the police saying they can't help, because legally the lock is the other person's property. So the suggested tactic was to just remove the wheels, the saddle, and take those home, and then go back for the frame in the morning. Not the ideal solution, I know.

 

[snorri]

Given the mental instaibilty of Brompton riders, ......
*I've never been a fan of Brompton riders - I've always classed them as Radio 3 listening, holier than thou, 'oooh you don't want to do it like that' types.

Considering your opinions of Brompton riders, I think you got off very lightly. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

 

[andyfromotley]

All Brompton riders I have met have proved to be thoroughly decent.

I take it you've never met that Tw&t Kevin McCloud then??

 

[ketka82uk]

To my shame I have been guilty of this... I have a D-lock with one of those looped cables to secure the front wheel. In a hurry one morning, I managed to sling this cable round the brake cable of the bike next to mine. Didn't return until 10 hour later to be met by the owner of the other bike who, understandably, was not a happy bunny. Accepted my deserved dressing down and rode home feeling VERY sheepish.

I guess she could have removed the her brake lever with an allen key and just slipped the cable out but I didn't want to point this out. It's still a fiddly task regardless. Needless to say she would have been well within her rights to have my cable cut.