Mindless vandalism

[catwoman]

I was a victim of crime the other night. I parked my bike outside a pub (on one of the bike racks outside in a reasonably well lit area) and had a lovely meal and nice evening catching up with a friend. When I went to collect my bike, the rear light bracket had been removed.
It couldn't have fallen off and it would have been rendered un-useable by removing it.
What was the point of that other than to inconvenience me as I now have to buy another rear bike light!

 

[Theseus]

You should be able to get a replacement bracket.

What make of light do you use?

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Happened to me,had bolted on lights ripped off before,I have seen worse to other bikes,but people are morons.

 

[Sandra6]

How maddening.
My brother had some trashy cheap lights -probably from the pound shop - held together with sellotape, and somebody stole them!!

 

[Octet]

Annoying for sure, I suppose you could count yourself lucky that it was only a light and nothing more

Did you get home fine? Did you cycle back without any back light or where you able to get a make shift one together out of a torch or something?

 

[HovR]

Unlucky..

My advice is to carry some zip-ties. Among many other uses, they can be used to make a makeshift light bracket.

 

[Crankarm]

Sadly the culprit was probably another cyclist.

 

[semislickstick]

This place is pretty good for finding bracket replacements
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rear-light-brackets-dept784/

 

[Maz]

Sadly the culprit was probably another cyclist.

And an unhinged one at that.

 

[catwoman]

Thank you for the sympathy and feedback. I shall visit my bike shop and see if they have any brackets today - of not I shall just get a new fitting and light set. I need a replacement fast - it's getting dark early now. I rode home without a rear light on the night and got away with it. Fortunately I think the Met have higher priorities than errant cyclists without the required lights on most nights.
I'm just glad I have good quality locks on the bike and the whole thing wasn't gone as there are organised bike thieves around here. I foiled a bike theft a few weeks ago when I was on my way to somewhere else with a friend and I saw a couple of lads on bikes circling around another couple of bikes chained to a lamp post in the dark. I had seen the owning cyclists leave them and within moments the thieves were there having a look. I just said out loud "Oooh look! Bike thieves!" and they went away - swearing at us as they rode off. We went into the pub where the cyclists had gone and told them of their near loss and the pub allowed them to bring their bikes into their garden for the evening.

 

[fossyant]

Worth getting more than one light though. How about the rubbery ones that strap on themselves as a backup.

SJS Cycles as mentioned above are a good source of brackets - so long as you know which light you have.

Folks will nab anything. I was expecting your post to say they had kicked in your wheels.

 

[thefollen]

What a random thing to steal!

When I had my shoulder collision- my road bike had to survive an entire night locked up outside A&E before a mate of mine could pick it up the next day. I was bricking it; however, the only thing stolen was the free water bottle I was given at an Evans organised ride. Monetary value: about 50p.

Not as annoying as a rear light bracket, but petty none the less...

 

[Jezston]

How maddening.
My brother had some trashy cheap lights -probably from the pound shop - held together with sellotape, and somebody stole them!!

I had a set I paid £3 for from Sports Direct. Some weirdo got into the carpark round the back of my flat, lifted off the rain cover from my crappy old mtb, then unscrewed the lights and fittings and walked off ... when they could have just taken the bike.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I had a set I paid £3 for from Sports Direct. Some weirdo got into the carpark round the back of my flat, lifted off the rain cover from my crappy old mtb, then unscrewed the lights and fittings and walked off ... when they could have just taken the bike.

I think he was just making sure you bought better lights next time lol

 

[Globalti]

Jesus, imagine lying injured in A&E knowing your beloved bike was standing outside in the hospital entrance where all the smokers and taxi drivers hang around! I'd be frantic with worry - I can see myself getting up and dashing out trailing tubes and cables and a posse of nurses trying to hold me back.

My bike simply NEVER goes out of my sight; it's either in our triple-locked and alarmed garage or it's under my bum or in direct line of sight outside a cafe. End of.