Mind boggling at the amount of bikes stolen.

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I think it's high time new bikes should be registered on to a data base by law and micro chipped containing the details of who the owner is. If it's sold the data base is then updated by the old owner. As bikes are getting ever more popular and more expensive ,bike thefts will only increase if nothing is done.

Who is going to pay for this, is the end customer going to be happy with the increased cost of new bikes? I doubt it. If you want to go the extra mile to protect your bike, do it, but it won't stop your bike from being stolen and moved on in the black market. Second hand buyers will not have microchip scanners at their gumtree/ebay meetups. If microchipping bikes became commonplace, criminals would soon work out how to circumvent them, so all the expense for nothing.

I hazard a bet the vast majority of thefts are bikes left out in gardens, garden sheds, or poorly secured garages. Take the effort to secure your bike properly with good locks and you'll do far more to protect yourself from theft than registering or microchipping will ever do.

Edit: I'll add. If you want to do your bit when buying a second hand bike, run the frame number by the free online registries, avoid all bikes with the numbers removed, painted over etc
 
Last edited:
Location
London
I think this happen's more then people imagine.
I think someone came up with a bit of software/bot or whatever called "burgle me" or whatever. It trawled social media blather for such stuff. I stress that the bod who came up with it had no criminal intent - was just highlighting the self regarding and dangerous blather that folk post publicly.

Similarly never understood why some folk on here have tag lines which list their expensive bikes.

Blue hills
Rusting ridgeback.

Edit, see that mjr referred to the rob me thing upthread - dived in too far ahead.
 
Last edited:

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
Point taken, and I do use my folder sometimes if I am absolutely 100% certain I'll be allowed in wherever I'm going. But to be honest I just prefer to walk than have the stress and hassle of locking a bike up and worrying about it.
So don't worry about it. If it goes, it goes. Worrying about it won't change it either way. I try to make it as secure as possible but even then I don't worry about it. If it's gone when I get back, I'll just have to deal with it.

I've never figured out how to use the hire bikes, I've never felt the need. I tend to avoid cycling inside zone 1. I just don't like it.
The congestion charge zone is actually much easier cycling than much of the neighbouring bits IMO. The hire bikes are pretty simple with ad-hoc use being a five-minute commune with the obelisk and your credit card the first time each day, then a minute to get a code at each additional use, although the 30-something pages of terms and conditions are unfair because it's unreasonable to expect people to stand there and read all that. The only real catch is to make really really sure the docking station at the end of your ride shows a green light (and newer ones bleep - maybe all do now) to say it's successfully registered the return, which sometimes means you need to shade the lights panel from direct sun.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
I think someone came up with a bit of software/bot or whatever called "burgle me" or whatever. It trawled social media blather for such stuff. I stress that the bod who came up with it had no criminal intent - was just highlighting the self regarding and dangerous blather that folk post publicly.

Similarly never understood why some folk on here have tag lines which list their expensive bikes.

Blue hills
Rusting ridgeback.

Edit, see that mjr referred to the rob me thing upthread - dived in too far ahead.



I do see why people list expensive bikes on here, after all it is a cycling forum and members are proud of their rides and want to show off a bit, and why not?

The social media trawling is I think worked on a massive scale. People must be sensible about these things.
 

Kestevan

Last of the Summer Winos
Location
Holmfirth.
Conversely I suspect that the amount of "targeted" theft using social media etc is vastly over-rated.
When our shed was broken into and all the bikes taken we were concerned that we had been targeted out.

When Plod caught them it turned out that they were simply touring the more affluent areas with a van and a set of bolt croppers, clearing out sheds, garages etc of anything they could find. According to the coppers, the house they raided was like an Alladins cave filled with bikes, tools, golf bats, mowers etc. All taken without plan and probably sold off for peanuts. Seems they were not the only gang doing similar - There's not many houses in expensive areas where a shed or garage wont contain something worth nicking, and the penalties if caught are pathetic... bloke who did > 8K just off us was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and a small fine for handling.
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Conversely I suspect that the amount of "targeted" theft using social media etc is vastly over-rated.
When our shed was broken into and all the bikes taken we were concerned that we had been targeted out.

When Plod caught them it turned out that they were simply touring the more affluent areas with a van and a set of bolt croppers, clearing out sheds, garages etc of anything they could find. According to the coppers, the house they raided was like an Alladins cave filled with bikes, tools, golf bats, mowers etc. All taken without plan and probably sold off for peanuts. Seems they were not the only gang doing similar - There's not many houses in expensive areas where a shed or garage wont contain something worth nicking, and the penalties if caught are pathetic... bloke who did > 8K just off us was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and a small fine for handling.

I'd be inclined to agree. When someone crashes a car, no matter how blatantly their fault, they usually come up with some excuse about how someone or something is responsible.

Similarly, when burgled people tend to make assumptions about who or what is responsible or was a factor.

I don't doubt that Strava and social media can be a useful tool to thieves, but the reality is any such thefts are a tiny, tiny minority. Thankfully I'm on neither Strava or FB anyway.
 

MacB

Lover of things that come in 3's
As mentioned already I always come back to the tackle the market it's easier than tackling the thieves. I will never, absolutely never, buy anything that has the remotest hint of knock-off about it. I don't care how cheap and that's the attitude that is lacking across all walks of life. I've had the argument with people I've worked with and the point they always fall back on is, don't look a gift horse in the mouth....nobbers
 
The use of tagged "bait bikes" by police should be encouraged. Bike thefts are easy to setup, unlike lawnmower thefts, yet these Aladin's caves of stolen goods where bikes end up could resolve many crimes.
 
Location
London
I do see why people list expensive bikes on here, after all it is a cycling forum and members are proud of their rides and want to show off a bit, and why not?

The social media trawling is I think worked on a massive scale. People must be sensible about these things.
Er hang on mr blue, didn't say anyone shouldn't do owt. Up to them.

Said i didn't understand it. Related to the subject of this thread.

And your comment about social media trawling.

Someone on another forum had a much repeated line about a supposedly secret bunker. One day said bunker was opened and advertised treasures taken.
 
Location
London
As mentioned already I always come back to the tackle the market it's easier than tackling the thieves. I will never, absolutely never, buy anything that has the remotest hint of knock-off about it. I don't care how cheap and that's the attitude that is lacking across all walks of life. I've had the argument with people I've worked with and the point they always fall back on is, don't look a gift horse in the mouth....nobbers
Agree. Used to lead a lot of rides. One day a chap rolled up - discussion before the off turned to stolen bikes being flogged. Rubbed his hands with glee at the prospect of a bargain. Nobber. I was tempted to tell him to go ride on his own for the day. I should have done. Don't think I saw him again. Maybe he sensed my polite frostiness. Or maybe his bike got nicked.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Er hang on mr blue, didn't say anyone shouldn't do owt. Up to them.

Said i didn't understand it. Related to the subject of this thread.

And your comment about social media trawling.

Someone on another forum had a much repeated line about a supposedly secret bunker. One day said bunker was opened and advertised treasures taken.


Sorry Mr BH, you took my comment a little out of context. I wasn't criticising you at all rather then using the old Barry Norman'ism.

Yes I remember that secret bunker episode. But at least the bikes were all recovered.
 
Top Bottom