Prolific bike theif

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GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
what's a stubby?


Seriously? A small hydaulic jack, so small as to be eff all use for jacking cars up, but tbh v useful in machine shops. Scrotes often fit them with a nut splitter type head rather than a flat pad, all the better to bust things open with. Fits easily in the pocket of a hoodie or in a carrier bag.

In certain parts of the realm being caught in posession of one will result in acharge of 'going equipped to steal' if the plod can be faffed with the paperwork. In our locality they all too often let said scrotes off with a caution/warning.

My BTP contacts advise that a small proportion of fare dodgers on suburban and sub suburban trains hereabouts are found to be 'going equipped', nice day out in the shires breaking and entering, mugging and nicking bikes then back home to the smoke for tea.

As others have said; if there was no market for ripped off bikes the scrotes would rip something else off instead.
 

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
Heck of a lot of scrotes carry stubbies.
Which is why Sold Secure Gold tests against them (tool C17).
 

MacB

Lover of things that come in 3's
I think the option of using multiple, different type, locks is fairly effective for us folks in the hinterlands, our biggest issue then would be casual vandalism. But I get the impression that larger places, London in particular, are a great deal more organised. In the sense that bikes can be spotted, observed and then necessary tools brought in to play. Stripping parts seems to be on the increase as well.

Maybe it's time to accept that genuinely secure cycle parking facilites are needed.
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
Which is why Sold Secure Gold tests against them (tool C17).

C17 = Hydraulic Bottle Jack (1.5 Tonnes) to BS AU 172b:1990

1.5 tonnes? I'll get you a stubby that does four times that pressure minimim, with a cracker tip, and you'll have change from £25. You'll get that back of the first decent bike you nick.

I wonder why they haven't tested the locks against what real world scrotes use?
 

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
Any standard needs to keep up with changes to kit used by scrotes, but the standard is (sensibly) tools and techniques commonly used by thieves, rather than everything available. If scrotes are genuinely commonly using 6-tonne jacks, then the standard needs to adapt to reflect that.

I'm sure Sold Secure has its flaws like anything else, but it's the best and most realistic standard I've seen so far.

But I agree that the best option is secure parking. The only time my trike is left out of sight is at pub & cafe stops, typically in villages where scrumping would put you top of the Most wanted list, and my Brompton comes into buildings with me.
 

Howard

Senior Member
C17 = Hydraulic Bottle Jack (1.5 Tonnes) to BS AU 172b:1990

1.5 tonnes? I'll get you a stubby that does four times that pressure minimim, with a cracker tip, and you'll have change from £25. You'll get that back of the first decent bike you nick.

I wonder why they haven't tested the locks against what real world scrotes use?

Just out of asking - how big are these things? I've never seen one. I'm wondering if making sure that there is no gap in between your d-lock, Sheffield stand and frame defeats this attack, as there will be no room in which to push a tool?
 

CopperBrompton

Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
Location
London
Just out of asking - how big are these things? I've never seen one. I'm wondering if making sure that there is no gap in between your d-lock, Sheffield stand and frame defeats this attack, as there will be no room in which to push a tool?
They are pretty meaty things, so yes, filling as much of the D-lock as possible is a good defence:

kojack%20lite%20500.jpg
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
Any standard needs to keep up with changes to kit used by scrotes, but the standard is (sensibly) tools and techniques commonly used by thieves, rather than everything available. If scrotes are genuinely commonly using 6-tonne jacks, then the standard needs to adapt to reflect that.

I'm sure Sold Secure has its flaws like anything else, but it's the best and most realistic standard I've seen so far.

But I agree that the best option is secure parking. The only time my trike is left out of sight is at pub & cafe stops, typically in villages where scrumping would put you top of the Most wanted list, and my Brompton comes into buildings with me.


fwiw my sources is buddy who is the BTP, and a custody sargent of the local plod, they tells me what they finds on the people they nick...

I'm guessing - and it is a guess- that sold secure haven't reviewed things in years. Why do I say this? Cos the British Standard they quote in respect of Hydraulic Jacks was superceeded in 2001 iirc.

re the picture; that's a standard telescopic bottle jack, by the standards of a stubby it is huge.
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
Just out of asking - how big are these things? I've never seen one. I'm wondering if making sure that there is no gap in between your d-lock, Sheffield stand and frame defeats this attack, as there will be no room in which to push a tool?


Fill that gap, you got it in one. Make sure the bike can't be wrestled to a position where the gap gets bigger, and the scrote will move on to easier pickings.

But is is easier said than done, especially if parking somewhere you aren't familiar with.
 

Howard

Senior Member
But is is easier said than done, especially if parking somewhere you aren't familiar with.

I think it's fairly straightforward: Sheffield stand + Krypto mini evo, through seat tube + rear wheel + krypto cable around front wheel. It's very tight fit and only works on bikes with skinny steel frames. Although I believe the the forgettaboutit will work in the same way on fat tubed bikes.

If you are not comfortable with the evo as a primary lock, IMHO you may be riding the wrong bike. If you can't find a Sheffield stand...perseverance.

There's a great picture on the LFGSS forum of Ed Scoble's bike locked with a forgettaboutit in this way, except the fagh is bigger, so it goes around the crankarm as well. No space at all to get a tool in. I just can't find it. Darn.

Edit: found it

Lockingmethod.jpg
 
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