Commuting - Bike stolen!

I know I am not the first one with this problem, but I ma posting this as a way of getting over it...

There are a few anormalities about my story.

I left it in front of a Safeway in quite an affluent neighborhood. I had to leave it there overnight because I really had to take the bus and its bike rack was full.

The next day I returned to pick it up and all that was left was my front wheel and the U-lock. What amazes me is that whoever stole it actually had to have tools with them, because the bike didn't have the quick-release wheels.

What else maked my story abnormal is that it was a crappy POS bike I've had for 7 years now. It cost me $200.

I always used to say that if anyone steals my bike then they must really need a bike, in which case they need it more than I do. Now that it's gone, though, I feel much more upset than I ever though I would.

The one thing that upsets me is that it was probably some drunk teenagers that thought it's be funny to do this. I am guessing my bike is on some garbage pile by now.

Now I have to walk everywhere, which takes much, much longer. Also, I used to ride before class in the mornings... the best time of the day.

Anyway, no particular point to my story, just felt like sharing my sadness.

Sorry about your loss, but good reminder to always, always lock your bike through the frame AND wheel. Even a bolt-on takes about 1min at the longest to remove.

Sorry to hear that, but that sounds like pretty amateur work for bike thieves. Have you seen the video online where these two brothers steal their own bikes all over NYC with a variety of tools? They don't bother with anything not locked by the frame!

The only good part of having your bike stolen is planning the next bike. Get the scratch together and get back on two wheels!

I see it here in LA. A guy will carry around a 26 inch wheel looking for someonewho improperly locks up their bike. He then takes the bike and uses the wheel he has. They all end up downtown for sale to unsuspecting buyers.

please post links to video!

Try this:

http://neistat.com/pages/video_holding/bikethief_holding.htm

You need QuickTime (booo!).

Sorry to hear about that. :( But get to Salvation Army or Goodwill and get a $20 bike. I hate walking myself. There's no reason to go through that when cheap bikes are available through thrift stores.

Koffee

Ah man that stinks! I can't imagine my ride getting stolen. Its my baby! I say get yourself a cheap used bike, if the shifters are no good then turn it into a single speed and never look back. If I was in your area I'd loan you an extra bike. Sorry :(

Thank you for your kind words, everyone.

Also, thanks for the video link. I'll be sure to check it out!

And now... time to think of that new bike! :)

I feel for you. I've lost 4 bikes this summer in two different breakins to my garage. Both times they took my wife's new or fairly new cruiser bike and my old junker commuter. My wife's bike was much easier to replace.
Hopefully by bricking up the windows of my garage I can prevent future thefts. But it does lead home the statement always lock your bike by the frame and wheels, even in your garage.
Craig

Saw the Neistadt movie. Living in the city, I don't doubt that there is such unconcern or indifference in passersby during a bike theft. Still, the passersby in the movie can readily see someone taking motion pictures of the theft in each instance.

That video is so amazing!! How callous people are to what is going on around them. I think that most people think "I am not getting involved" they don't want to get themselves hurt for someone elses problems. That is DEFINITELY New York for you.

I would love to see a demonstration on how to exactly lock up your bike. I have seen one U-Lock method from here, but I don't own a U-lock and the picture was NOT clear enough to see where I am supposed to thread the lock. I just lock up the frame, and I have quick release front wheel. The places I lock up my bike though, are minute. One is at the YMCA, where I saw a bike standing there with no lock and it was still there when I came back out and the other place is work on government property in the back, so no one is really around to mess with it.

not a bike, but i few weeks ago i was headed up to visit a friend in new york for a few days, i got off work late and wasn't sure if the bus had a bike rack so i drove to atlantic city to get on the bus, i parked in a casino garage(it's 4 bucks and you can park for up to a week), when i got back 3 days later my stereo was gone, but the guy took alot of time to remove my window from the track rather than break it, and the stereo he took had a cracked face plate so you couldn't use the clock or see the radio station, further more the cd player didn't work at all, so it was essentially a useless piece of equipment and this guy took alot of time to steal it, good stuff

http://neistat.com/pages/video_holding/bikethief_holding.htm

Unbelievable...I live in a small town where you would be challanged by a neighbor if you even pulled up into my driveway much less pulled out a bolt cutter on the town sidewalk and cut a lock to a bike. Unfortunate but I guess big city life will make you jaded to whats going on around you.

Unbelievable...I live in a small town where you would be challanged by a neighbor if you even pulled up into my driveway much less pulled out a bolt cutter on the town sidewalk and cut a lock to a bike. Unfortunate but I guess big city life will make you jaded to whats going on around you.

That video isn't totally fair. If I saw someone stealing a bike, I don't think I would approach them. However I would call 911 (and I have after witnessing far tamer incidents). But that's not going to show up on a video.

That video is so amazing!! How callous people are to what is going on around them. I think that most people think "I am not getting involved" they don't want to get themselves hurt for someone elses problems. That is DEFINITELY New York for you.
As a lifetime, native New Yorker, I just want to come to my home town's defense a little. Forgive me for being blunt (a quality we NYers are known for ;) ), but I'm sick and tired of people bashing New York with the antiquated and grossly inaccurate idea that crime here is rampant and the people don't give a rat's patoot about anything or each other. Nothing could be further from the truth, as anyone who does or has lived here knows very well.

New York City has the lowest per capita crime rate of any large city in the US. And a significantly lower rate than many smaller cities and towns. In fact, according to www.cityrating.com, Bristol, VA has almost twice the per-capita rate of property crime that New York City does. So chances are, your bike is significantly safer in NYC than in many many other areas of the country.

Also, the sociological phenomenon known as diffused responsibility comes into play here. The idea is that the more people that are present to witness some anti-social or criminal act, the less likely any one individual is to actually intercede. This phenomenon is often observed in large cities, but the principle is true in all populations. On a busy street with hundreds of people present, each individual will generally feel a diminished responsibility to act. The same person/people would be more disposed to stop a theft in progress if there were only a handful of people there. I'm not at all saying that's an admirable trait, just that it's human nature. Maybe it's a consequence of growing up in New York, but I personally make a point of always stepping up when people need help.

I know I am not the first one with this problem, but I ma posting this as a way of getting over it...

There are a few anormalities about my story.

I left it in front of a Safeway in quite an affluent neighborhood. I had to leave it there overnight because I really had to take the bus and its bike rack was full.

The next day I returned to pick it up and all that was left was my front wheel and the U-lock. What amazes me is that whoever stole it actually had to have tools with them, because the bike didn't have the quick-release wheels.

What else maked my story abnormal is that it was a crappy POS bike I've had for 7 years now. It cost me $200.

I always used to say that if anyone steals my bike then they must really need a bike, in which case they need it more than I do. Now that it's gone, though, I feel much more upset than I ever though I would.

The one thing that upsets me is that it was probably some drunk teenagers that thought it's be funny to do this. I am guessing my bike is on some garbage pile by now.

Now I have to walk everywhere, which takes much, much longer. Also, I used to ride before class in the mornings... the best time of the day.

Anyway, no particular point to my story, just felt like sharing my sadness.

Are you located in Brooklyn? Another poster threw something up on bikeforums about the cops taking bikes away: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=144196

Koffee

I always used to say that if anyone steals my bike then they must really need a bike, in which case they need it more than I do. Now that it's gone, though, I feel much more upset than I ever though I would.

i know just how you feel. i thought i wasn't attached to either of my bikes either, but i still felt kind of hurt when each one got stolen. i kept thinking 'man. there's probably sixteen people on this block who own bikes they really wouldn't miss if you had to have one, but i was using that one!' or they would have been welcome to something else of mine, like my tv. it bites.

i hope the next one is great though. that is the good part of theft, i suppose. i still kind of hope that whoever took or ended up with my bikes got good use out of them. that would make me feel better.

Some crazy stuff happens in parking lots late at night and no one seems to bat an eye.

I left it in front of a Safeway in quite an affluent neighborhood. I had to leave it there overnight because I really had to take the bus and its bike rack was full.What was it the last bus or something? I've been known to either wait or have a "close enough" bus as a back up plan
The next day I returned to pick it up and all that was left was my front wheel and the U-lock. What amazes me is that whoever stole it actually had to have tools with them, because the bike didn't have the quick-release wheels. An adjustable wrench fits nicely in a back pocket. Read this http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

What else maked my story abnormal is that it was a crappy POS bike I've had for 7 years now. It cost me $200. Crackheads are everywhere even in "good" neighborhoods
I always used to say that if anyone steals my bike then they must really need a bike, in which case they need it more than I do. Now that it's gone, though, I feel much more upset than I ever though I would. Ghandi's dead. Your stuff got stolen. Being mad is normal
The one thing that upsets me is that it was probably some drunk teenagers that thought it's be funny to do this. I am guessing my bike is on some garbage pile by now.Probably. Did you file a police report?
Now I have to walk everywhere, which takes much, much longer. Also, I used to ride before class in the mornings... the best time of the day.
You'd be amazed at what you can find at thrift stores near wealthy areas

Sorry for your loss.

I had two Cannondale mountain bikes built as commuter bikes stolen – one in 2002 and the other in 2003. The second one was the nicest commuter bike I’ve ever seen… I’m convinced that that was its downfall – it looked too good. I won’t make that mistake again. You can’t use a good-looking bike as a commuter and leave it locked up routinely in a city like Atlanta – it will get pinched… it’s only a matter of time.

Both of my current, every-day commuter bikes are inexpensive steel bikes that I bought on eBay and built up – the big factor here is cost. Since theft is a huge problem where I live, I have learned that I have to “go cheap” for the bikes that I use for routine transportation – including locking and leaving the bike.

So far, my strategy – which seems to work so far – is to build a bike that’s highly functional but doesn’t look all that great – I’ve touched it up with non-matching paint.

But please don’t get discouraged… you can adapt to the situation. It’s a shame that you have to, but it beats giving up.

And for the best local deals on bikes look on eBay or craigslist.org and look at the ones that are listed for local pickup only – that tends to drive down the price. Good luck shopping.

Dude, I know exactly how you're feeling, and it hurts.

About a month ago I left my beater mountain bike, a Marin HawkHill, outside my local leisure centre on a busy main road, locked with 2 locks front & rear. When I returned an hour later the bike had gone, locks and all.

Apart from the inconvenience, what really makes me despair was that I'd dilberately made this bike worthless to any thief by painting it in black oil paint, scratching up all the components, and electronically tagging it. I still cannot understand why anyone would choose to nick it since it looked a real mess and couldn't possibly be sold on, so I can only imagine it was kids from the local estate thinking it might be cool or something.

I did report this to the local police but I doubt I'll ever see it again.

Since then I've bought a new Specialized and am still debating whether it's worth scratching it up. I do now use a much stronger U-lock and am more careful to lock it in full view of security cameras, etc...

Andy.

New York City has the lowest per capita crime rate of any large city in the US. And a significantly lower rate than many smaller cities and towns. In fact, according to www.cityrating.com, Bristol, VA has almost twice the per-capita rate of property crime that New York City does. So chances are, your bike is significantly safer in NYC than in many many other areas of the country.


I've never been to NY, but all NY bikers say it is the worst city from a bike theft point of view in the world. Maybe general crime rates are low, but NY is the only place where, non-quick-release seatposts,hex wheels, allen key handlebars, and brake pads get stolen. Somebody there had his (crappy)frame cut through and his bike stolen for a couple of nicer parts the bike had. The lock and some sawdust remained.

I've never been to NY, but all NY bikers say it is the worst city from a bike theft point of view in the world. Maybe general crime rates are low, but NY is the only place where, non-quick-release seatposts,hex wheels, allen key handlebars, and brake pads get stolen. Somebody there had his (crappy)frame cut through and his bike stolen for a couple of nicer parts the bike had. The lock and some sawdust remained.Well I don't have any personal points of comparison since NY is the only place I've ever ridden a bike other than occasional vacation riding. I can only judge by the official statistics, which speak for themselves. Per capita, crime in NY is lower than many other places in the US. So count at least one NY biker who disagrees ;)

Your other point has merit, although I would hardly think NY is the one and only location on the planet where the thieves know how to use a crescent wrench. The craftiness of NY bike thieves is a consequence of the bell-curve effect when you have a huge population. There are a lot more people in NY, a lot more bike riders, and a lot more bike thieves than in many other places. There is a higher quantity of theft, so there is a niche in NY at the leading edge of the bell curve for highly professional bike thieves--they can specialize in their craft and search the city for vulnerable bikes all day long. That doesn't mean that your bike is more likely to be stolen in NY than somewhere else, just that if it is targetted, there is a chance it will be stolen by a professional, well-equipped thief.