Pannier Security

[Bankieboy]

hello,
I'm re-aquainting myself with biking and would like to fit panniers . However, there appears to be more cycle related theft than I had realised.
Is there a reasonable method/ make of pannier, which makes the pannier attachement secure(ish)?

 

[Bankieboy]

User,
Thanks. I realise that the contents will always be at risk. It's the pannier itself I am concerned about (unnecessarily?)

 

[HLaB]

I went for panniers with the Ortlieb quick release system (Q2) and take them with me. I usually only carry one and it a reasonable size, so its not really a problem.

 

[Riding in Circles]

User,
Thanks. I realise that the contents will always be at risk. It's the pannier itself I am concerned about (unnecessarily?)

Ortlieb do a security system for theirs but most people take their panniers with them when they park the bike.

 

[Willow]

I have reasonably priced DHB ones and take them with me as I need the stuff I'm carrying in them otherwise I would leave them at home.

 

[J4CKO]

I think thieves will want the whole bike, most opportunist wouldn't want a pannier as lets face it, they aren't cool, they may steal to sell but the main culprits would be fellow cyclists but I think thats a small risk.

 

[HLaB]

I don't think I'd worry about theft (Liar I probably would) but its what an idiot puts in them.

 

[HLaB]

Unfortunately there are some people who just steal because they're bored and if they can't steal they vandalise

 

[PBancroft]

I've never had anyone attempt to steal anything from my panniers - but then I use the Torpeak quicktrak system, so taking the pannier off is so easy I tend to take it with me whenever I dismount.

That said, I have left my wallet, car keys, recent purchases in the pannier, and not had any problems either. I may just be lucky, have misplaced faith, live in a good area... dunno really. My pet theory is that folk, on the whole, are good people. That tends to steer me straight.

Someone will post that will prove me wrong of course!

 

[Bankieboy]

Thanks to you all for taking the time to reply. I really do appreciate it.

 

[purplepolly]

What about those wire net things they make for backpackers to secure their backpacks at night - it could be secured with the bike lock

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&activity_id=6

 

[orbiter]

I take the view when touring that if it's easy to remove a pannier, an opportunist thief probably will one day. I feel they are less likely to dig into the contents in a public place, but wouldn't leave anything valuable in panniers anyway. I wouldn't want to lug them around while pausing for some sightseeing.

I put a couple of metal eyelets in the back of my panniers, with a small chain through the rack fixed to a padlock in each pannier. Cheap and simple.

Pete

 

[PrettyboyTim]

You could try Bikebins which are hard polyethylene panniers. They have a lock that secures the lid and the pannier itself can be secured with a cable through the handle. It's probably enough to deter a minor thief, but anyone who could cut through the cable or handle wouldn't be stopped.

 

[Maizie]

Damn, I was just about to suggest a Bikebin but was beaten to it...
I have a Bikebin (cosmetic seconds come up on eBay from time to time, which knocks the price down - I can't work out what made my one a second, it looks perfectly fine to me). I have a cable lock to attach it to my rack, though that's probably more there so that if the bin were to somehow fall off, it wouldn't go very far. The only place I park my bike is at home in the garage, or at work in the CCTVd carpark. But it does mean I can leave stuff I don't need in the office out with the bike and it's locked in there. Obviously easy enough to unlock and carry off with me at any time if I wanted, if I were just stopping for a quick nip in to a shop on the way home then I would feel fine leaving it attached and locked.

 

[johnnyh]

I also have the Topeak quicktrack system, so I just attach the shoulder strap and carry it like a bag.