Unbelievable theft story

[FrankCrank]

Thanks for re-igniting my theft anxiety as I desperately try to shove it back in its box and drop a not inconsiderable sum on a shiny new utility bike

How was it locked up? I'm guessing / hoping using some fairly light secuity given you (evidently mis-placed!) confidence in it not getting robbed!

Very glad that you got it back and well done for handling it how you did anyway; while I've mellowed somewhat and become more understanding towards those less fortunate as I've aged I still think I'd struggle to avoid uncharacteristic levels of violence if I caught someone robbing my gear.

It was locked securely in a busy town centre road, and the D-lock seemed sturdy enough as a deterrent, given bike's clunker status.
The new Kryptonite lock cost sixteen beer tokens, that's a ratio of 3:1 for this bike, which is as far as I can go really.
I've got a spare pair of quick release pedals that I'll bring back from Thailand on my next visit, so that will be extra security.
The clunker, when I got it, just needed air in the tyres and oil in the cables, and ready to go. No time and energy invested, but would miss it all the same.

 

[Profpointy]

I think I've previously recounted a tale of a break in my old shared house in London. A flat mate had a stacking system type stereo on a table by a window and they surmised the miscreant had spotted it which enticed the break in. However the stereo had been in a fire and all the front panels were half melted and the melted knobs on the graphic equaliser had been replaced with toothpaste tube lids, so it was valueless albeit did work. Anyhow the hapless burglar rummaged around finding nothing but did come across a locked cupboard belonging to our landlard. He them broke a soldering iron to jemmy open the cupboard only to find it was full of dried up old tins of paint. We felt sorry for him if anything.

And on bike theft, a pal at university had a fixie which he hadn't locked up one evening and by the morning it had gone. He found it fifty yards down the road in the hedge with the handlebars out of kilter. The miscreant, perhaps well refreshed, had likely eased off for the corner and got hoy'd off by the fixie keeping going. Having now got one myself you only do this once !

 

[katiewlx]

go watch one of Francis Cades youtube videos on bike locks, if you can cope with the anxiety then of realising most bike locks are about as useful as swiss cheese at locking your bike securely to anything.

 

[FrankCrank]

Funniest theft I recall was years back, working as an operator at the BT datacentre here in Reading.
Came in to start a day shift, and police were on site getting statements, as the TV in the restroom had been stolen.
The regular security guard was not on duty that night, so a relief fella was doing the job instead. He claimed he was doing his rounds at the back of the building, and when he returned to the front, the TV was missing, and there was a broken window where they must have made their getaway.
However, the hole in the window was not big enough for the TV to fit through, and secondly, a camera in the corridor showed the guard and a mate carrying the TV out the front door. We later learned that when the police raided his home, it was full of stolen goods from all the sites he had worked at. Would be fair to say he wasn't the sharpest knife in the draw.

 

[FrankCrank]

go watch one of Francis Cades youtube videos on bike locks, if you can cope with the anxiety then of realising most bike locks are about as useful as swiss cheese at locking your bike securely to anything.

Have seen a few videos like this, and it really is shocking how little effect even expensive locks have at stopping theft.

Gotta wonder if a white saddle with a brown tripe down the middle would be better option