General Cycling Discussion - Attention!! Competition: NEW IDEAS against bike thefts! EVERYTHING NEW IS WELCOME.

Hi all. Let's share our OWN, new ways of protecting something we like (value) so much, our bikes.

Ok, how about this one:
A little note is attached to the hadle bar which only a person close to it will read.

The note should make a thief change his mind after reading it.
Write so mething like this:

Think before you steal it, we will find the bike, and after we find it, we WILL FIND YOU and prosecute by cutting your index finger off. Make your choise, but you have been warned...

Must issue provisions for concealed carry, and an attitude on the part of the criminal justice system that bike theft is a serious crime, with damage far greater than the cost of the property stolen. Bike theft increases the cost of a low pollution, healthy, form of transportation. It also makes it harder for poor people to take advantage of a low cost transportation mode, which then makes employment less attractive.

I would also like to see if there are any statistics which show that violen criinals start with crimes like bike theft and work their way up to even worse crimes. If so, then working hard to apprehend bike thieves could specifically deter them from crimes such as murder in the future.

Bottom line- catching bike thieves is likely to be far more effective than locking bikes.

How about this one:

I'm pregnant with your baby. Run!

;)

I doubt a theft would even stop to read a note.

Originally posted by FOG

Bottom line- catching bike thieves is likely to be far more effective than locking bikes.
Please, do not forget about the global scale, catching one bike thief, is the same as filtering a gallon of ocean water, and talking about fighting the ocean pollution...

Originally posted by fubar5
I doubt a theft would even stop to read a note.

He will read it...
And BELIEVE , there are some PEOPLE, usually motorcycle riders, so called BIKERS, that DO use this tactics, not neceserrly writtenm but they do find their bikes, and if they find those who contributed to the theft, I would not want to be on this persons place...

People that steal motorcycles, keep this in mind...

I had a bike, and had chance to be around some organized motorcycle groups of 50 and more riders... with VERY different people in the group...

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
He will read it...



What makes you say that?

Fubar, seems like you just argue to argue...

Use common sense, do you really think the guy will notice something written near the handlebar and will not read it?....

Write it in RED, and he will have to read it...

Unless, of course he CAN"T read...
Is that what you assume?...
:rolleyes:

Do you think somebody who steals cares about a note? Do you think that they haven't taken into consideration what would happen if they get caught?

Besides that, I have yet to meet a law enforcement person that takes a stolen bike seriously. I haven't met alot of law people, but finding a stolen bike seems like quite a task to me.

A note in red, purple, orange or pink will not stop a thief.

They already know that if they get caught they will be in trouble. Thieves do what they do believing that they will not get caught.

If they are able to get away with stealing bikes and the police department, which is trained in tracking down thieves, can't find them, why should they believe that a bike rider with a red pen will be able to track them down?

Maybe a note written in blood.. :)

Finding a stolen bike is hard, but using a decoy operation to catch bike thieves is not. If the police target bike thieves the word will get out and most will be deterred, especially those locked up for stealing bikes. It all depends on police taking bike theft (and robbery) seriously.

What so intresting is that many bikes in my area are left unlocked and out in the open like motorcycles. and they are never stolen. seriously!!!

I remember posting this! http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26104 They are bike lockers! You lock your bike inside, and know one can take stuff off your bike.:D

Originally posted by smelly
I remember posting this! http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26104 They are bike lockers! You lock your bike inside, and know one can take stuff off your bike.:D

Here's a link to a manufacturer of bicycle lockers (http://www.cycle-safe.com/CaseStudies.html).

We have them in Seattle (http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bike/lockers.html) and I've seen them in Palo Alto, CA too.

Alright.. I have a new idea to prevent bike theft. Find some junk bike left on the corner with the stickers "Magna" or "RoadMaster". Steal the stickers and put them on your bike. Your bike is now worthless and theft-proof!.

I like those bike lockers.

about the note thing.... What if the thief can't read English?
about the stickers......In my area any kind of bike will get stolen, especially the bed one because it wont stand out from a crowed.

Originally posted by Dahon.Steve
Alright.. I have a new idea to prevent bike theft. Find some junk bike left on the corner with the stickers "Magna" or "RoadMaster". Steal the stickers and put them on your bike. Your bike is now worthless and theft-proof!.

That reminds me the one SNL faux-mercial about the Chameleon XJ-9000... a car that on the outside looked like it was made of recycled parts from 5 different other cars complete with mismatched colours, holes in the bodywork, a power-retractable clothes-hanger for an antennae... etc. They even did a spoof of the Acura (or was it Lexus?) commercial at the time by rolling a ball-bearing down the hood which promptly fell through a rusted out hole and clanged around inside the engine compartment for a minute before falling out the bottom. :D

This has got to be the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen


Ok, how about this one:
A little note is attached to the hadle bar which only a person close to it will read.

The note should make a thief change his mind after reading it.
Write so mething like this:

Think before you steal it, we will find the bike, and after we find it, we WILL FIND YOU and prosecute by cutting your index finger off. Make your choise, but you have been warned...

The only note worth leaving on a bike is "I'm standing behind you with a 9mm pointed at your head. Don't turn around just walk away." A note? You know for a guy as supposedly higly educated as your resume would imply you're not very well versed in the realities of life.

My old work had lockers like those, but the weak point is the lock you use on them. That can easily be defeated. But they are definately a step in the right direction. How about a Tank! You just put your bike inside when not in use :)

Originally posted by Kev
....snip.... How about a Tank! You just put your bike inside when not in use :) That won't work in California. The Californy Nashi-o-nal Gwarsh has to Lojack thiers.


Yes the photo is REAL

Originally posted by Raiyn
That won't work in California. The Californy Nashi-o-nal Gwarsh has to Lojack thiers.


Yes the photo is REAL

I think I saw this on TV the other day:D

Why is it the Americans always go in for overkill ?

I count 25 police cars, that is 50 cops, following one tank and one assumes one thief.

What can 25 cars do that can not be done by about 6 to keep the way clear for the tank ?

There was a similar theft/chase in Germany a year or two back. A few cars simply closed the road ahead of the tank and then reopened it when he passed. One helicopter kept pace to wait from the thief to crash or run out of fuel and then drop off military police when they were needed.

In Europe you would never see more than 3 cop cars, and they never follow each other, the idea is not to put pressure on the stolen vehicle driver, so it appears he is simply being tailed by a single car, which keeps it's distance.

Also remember cops don't carry guns here.

30,000 cars are stolen each year in the UK, so to extrapolate the figure basis the UK population of 60m against the USA population of 250m would mean to have a similar level of theft in the USA about 120,000 cars would need to be stolen in the USA each year, anyone know what the real figure is ?

Brains,
In this case, the thief was wantonly running over cars, smashing stuff, and creating a real dangerous situation. In the end, the theif/tanker was shot and killed by the police.

I have a note on my bicycle... it says:

THIS BIKE IS STOLEN!
If you see this note,
please call Joe Gardner
@ XXX-XXX-XXXX ASAP.

The note his hidden in the BB, I had my LBS put it there (after reading the idea from another forum member a few years ago...).

The idea is sooner or later, the BB will need to be fixed or replaced. It may take a few years to get the bike back, but i am sure I’ll get it back. I also have a few photos of the bike, including the SN#, make / model / components in an envelope under my bed. I even went as far as getting the envelope post marked over the seal, to set a date on the contents.

If the bike is stolen and later sold, chances are a LBS will do the repair. My LBS knows of the note, but if i need to take it to a different shop, I will inform them of the note before any repair.

Tips to reduce the chance of bike theft:
1. Lock your bike up next to an unlocked bike. A thief will go for the easy kill
2. Lock your bike up next to a much nicer bike. A thief will pick the flashy bike.
3. Camoflauge your bike. Not green and brown splotches but urban camo, remove the stickers, paint it a flat color, leave the non essentials dirty. Close inspection might reveal a nice ride but a crook cruising the racks will pass over it.
4. Lock it up in a different spot every day. Thieves usually case out their prey and if you move it around it makes it harder for him to do this.
5. Lock it up in open area. While exposure won't stop a thief, if he has to cruise a cross the quad with a four foot set of bolt cutters he will stand out and this is something he doesn't want.
6. Use a fixed gear, preferably with no brakes and clipless pedals. Not only is this a less desirable bike, with no extra parts to sell off, but if you are lucky they will take off, quit pedaling to coast and get tossed over the handlebars.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
6. Use a fixed gear, preferably with no brakes and clipless pedals. Not only is this a less desirable bike, with no extra parts to sell off, but if you are lucky they will take off, quit pedaling to coast and get tossed over the handlebars.

:lol: that's actually a good idea... not sure if it would work but sure would make me feel good if I knew that the person who stole my bike will get it in the end :p

Originally posted by Dahon.Steve
Alright.. I have a new idea to prevent bike theft. Find some junk bike left on the corner with the stickers "Magna" or "RoadMaster". Steal the stickers and put them on your bike. Your bike is now worthless and theft-proof!.

That is a pretty good idea.. sort of an adding to the "uglyfying your bike" theme.
Except it will not work if the bike is obviously expensive... Those who steal, probably know what bikes have the value...

Appreciate your contribution, sir.

Originally posted by Raiyn
This has got to be the STUPIDEST thing I've ever seen



The only note worth leaving on a bike is "I'm standing behind you with a 9mm pointed at your head. Don't turn around just walk away." A note? You know for a guy as supposedly higly educated as your resume would imply you're not very well versed in the realities of life.

Hey, with this kind of attitude, it's better to jump out of the 10th floor window.
What did you write this for?

Optimists are those who live the live, Pessimist are just stand by viewers...
You are also quite rude, buddy. ;)

Originally posted by Brains
Why is it the Americans always go in for overkill ?

I count 25 police cars, that is 50 cops, following one tank and one assumes one thief.

What can 25 cars do that can not be done by about 6 to keep the way clear for the tank ?

There was a similar theft/chase in Germany a year or two back. A few cars simply closed the road ahead of the tank and then reopened it when he passed. One helicopter kept pace to wait from the thief to crash or run out of fuel and then drop off military police when they were needed.

In Europe you would never see more than 3 cop cars, and they never follow each other, the idea is not to put pressure on the stolen vehicle driver, so it appears he is simply being tailed by a single car, which keeps it's distance.

Also remember cops don't carry guns here.

30,000 cars are stolen each year in the UK, so to extrapolate the figure basis the UK population of 60m against the USA population of 250m would mean to have a similar level of theft in the USA about 120,000 cars would need to be stolen in the USA each year, anyone know what the real figure is ?

Very GOOD point.
The things organized differently in the US. All those cups will get paid EXTRA... in the end.

Same thing as when an old lady has a heart attack, one ambulance and a huge fire TRUCK comes to the door... That is a big waste of fuel...But hey, fire fiughters need money, and if insurance company will pay, why not take a ride...

As a matter of fact, person that we actually taking the tank driver guy out of the cabin, "we risking their lives", with 100 guns poainted against one guy, but since they risked, they are heroes now, and heroes get A LOT OF MONEY here...

[i]You know for a guy as supposedly higly educated as your resume would imply you're not very well versed in the realities of life.[/color] [/B]

Please, nothing personal on the board... If you have some personal question directly to ME, you can use e-mail, or instant messaging provided by the forum.
Anybody who starts personal attacks, will simply be ignored in the future... I would think twice before trying to insult someone.

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
6. Use a fixed gear, preferably with no brakes and clipless pedals. Not only is this a less desirable bike, with no extra parts to sell off, but if you are lucky they will take off, quit pedaling to coast and get tossed over the handlebars.


:lol: that's actually a good idea... not sure if it would work but sure would make me feel good if I knew that the person who stole my bike will get it in the end :p
Yeah, I agree, gives something to think about, except it's pretty complicated to disattach some major parts like brakes or pedals. What if you just run to the store to get a notebook or a calculator...
But main idea is making the bike impossible to ride on it's own, that's a new one to me.
uhmmmm, take the handle bar inside the store with you. By the way, there are some really strong motorcycle anti-theft locks, that lock the brake rotor, those are not as easy to brake as the ones designed for the bicycle.
Id check out a motorcycle shop.

I do not like the idea of intentionally spoiling my bike with the bad paint or ugly stickers. I like to cycle on the beautiful bike. I find the aesthetical pleasure in riding my Giant AluLight.

I also hope that this military tank is not an advent of a new motor-world fashion. First offroaders then who-knows-what. After SUVs one can expect anything.

There are U-locks and cable-locks in bicycle shops, which are very strong. Some come with the financial guarantee. It is the bad idea to have a bicycle, which costs 500 currency units and the lock for 5. It should be at least 500/50 ratio.

I commute to work by bike. I keep one heavy cable-lock in the office to avoid carrying it every day. I learned this idea at the Commuting section of the bicycle forum.

I would say a man, who could cut this cable, do need this bike more than me and deserves it for his skills.

I also wrote my name and e-mail address on the bike with the permanent marker on the bike frame, on the invisible part of it. Because even if I catch the thief shortly after stealing, how i will be able to prove to cops that this is my bike. It would be my word against thief's word situation. But now I can just show cops my name on the bike.

Or if the bike is stolen just for a fun ride and left behind somewhere, a honest person has the chance to send me an e-mail and return the bike.

A lot of lost property can not be returned back, because there is no name & contact label on it.

As for the note, which threatens to "cut finger", this note will put you down immediately on the same or lower moral level as the thief. Cutting the finger would be illegal. Besides such a note would be the daily reminder of the human cruelty, which produces criminals in the first place.

If I saw such a note on someone's bike, I would thought - what a gangster rides this bike.

This note would be a bluff. But as any bluff this one can be called. Are you really ready to cut someone's finger for your bike? Will you do this? I mean how will you proceed? Take this man into the woods, gag him. What tool will you use? A knife, scissors? Maybe an ax? If you are not ready to do this, then better avoid putting it down in ink.

No. This is not my cup of tea. I like better bike lockers. One can lock his bike on a tour with panniers on and go to a museum, or to cinema. This is really nice idea.

My idea of preventing bike theft?

This won't work if the thief is just going to throw it in the back of a truck. However, if they plan on riding it away, put the bike seat on loosely. This way, it falls off. They sit down and, well, you know the rest.

Either that or lock it up in a highly visible place.

A saddle cover printed "This Seat Cover Transmits HIV!"

You took the right first step IMO in buying an older "less desirable" bike that a professional isn't going to waste alot of time on.Beyond that I just lock it when I'm in a store etc. but not leave it out of my site for a long time.Just don't fix up your bike too nice for now or it may become a target.Also and you may not want to go this far my chainrings are so sharktoothed that if someone jumped on it and started pedaling hard the chain wopuld just start slipping and come off. I really need to fix that fairly soon lol.

Does anyone else think a fixed gear bike would be less likely to be stolen ?

Dan

Originally posted by oscaregg
A saddle cover printed "This Seat Cover Transmits HIV!"

Do not do this though if you visit your girlfriend and leave bike near her place. I would not recommend this.

I've never seen this, but it seems like it would be a decent idea if it catches on. How about a cable lock with an alarm? A small current running through the cable could trigger an alarm if it were cut off. The alarm should be peripheral to the lock and actually attached to the bike (you want the bike to make noise, not the lock). I doubt more than 5% of the thiefs would have the guts to carry off a bike that had a high pitched siren going off, especially in a crowded area. If the locks became popular, thieves would begin to recognize them and (for the most part) stop trying to take the bikes that have them.
As for bike lockers, one of the malls near me has them, but gives no instructions on where to go to check one out, so they get no use.

Originally posted by iamlucky13
A small current running through the cable could trigger an alarm if it were cut off.

Good idea. However the current running through the cable can be bypassed with a long wire.

Still an alarm would be OK. Or maybe not an alarm, but the SMS to the owner's mobile number?

On the other hand I am not sure one would like to know that his bike is being stolen in real time.

Either just a lost bike or get hurt by thieves. Because, arresting a criminal is to be done by the trained specialists. A wrong judgement can cost more than a bike in this.

Hang Bikes on top of your house.

http://underforty.us/bikesunder.jpg

Originally posted by Max
...
On the other hand I am not sure one would like to know that his bike is being stolen in real time.
...


One of the local Harley Davidson dealers here in town was pitching an anti-theft device that would place a phone call to your pager, if your motorcycle was being tampered with.

This seems to me a better option than the widely ignored screeching and honking automobile alarms.

Rather than having this device integrated into a lock, I would place the sending unit in a sealed small box with a motion detector. This could be bolted to the frame or under the seat or placed in a pannier, wedge bag, or handlebar bag. It could page you with it's own GPS coordinates, there by allowing you to locate it.

If you wanted to go a little further, you could place it into the frame at the factory and configure it with an encrypted wireless interface. Sawing your frame in half once a year to replace the batteries would only be a minor inconvienience. You could tow a trailer loaded with solar panels behind you to power the device if you wanted to avoid that. Your all set until someone steals the trailer.....

Dan

Originally posted by DanFromDetroit
One of the local Harley Davidson dealers here in town was pitching an anti-theft device that would place a phone call to your pager, if your motorcycle was being tampered with.

This seems to me a better option than the widely ignored screeching and honking automobile alarms.

Rather than having this device integrated into a lock, I would place the sending unit in a sealed small box with a motion detector. This could be bolted to the frame or under the seat or placed in a pannier, wedge bag, or handlebar bag. It could page you with it's own GPS coordinates, there by allowing you to locate it.


In Europe and Asia almost everyone has now the GSM phone capable of SMS - short messsage service. SMS rocks. It is cheap fast and reliable. It works across borders still with the low cost.

The cost of a simple GSM phone is very acceptable. On the basis of it such a device can be constructed.

I would also include some basic training of what to do when one discovers that his bike is being stolen.

Thieves however will probably use an earthed metal net to cover the bike before stealing to screen off the radio signal.

Originally posted by danka24
Hang Bikes on top of your house.



Very creative, but would not work for me. I keep my bike near the flat exit around the year. Ready to take off in seconds.

I learned the value of it when my mom was in hospital for months and I had to be able to go there on very short notice at any time.

Bicycle beats anything in such a situation. Instead of going to the parking lot, warming engine, etc. I could just take off and use these minutes to get there (5 km) without any delay.

Leave a couple of spent shotgun shells scattered on the saddle with a note reading, "Be right back!".


:p

If the wire carrying the current ran through the middle of the cable, then no bypass could be used until the alarm had already been triggered. I admit, if someone wanted to get around the security enough, they could, but it would make it a lot harder than just packing around bolt cutters.
As far as having to face up to thieves, hopefully one wouldn't have to. That's not the idea behind car alarms. The idea is it draws attention to the crime so the thief has to worry about being noticed.
I'm gonna have to look into my idea a little further, talk it over with some EE's here on campus.

Re-write of a popular bumper sticker - Attention thieves, wedgepack only contains $20 worth of ammunition, the rider has the rest.

Leave your Rotwieler or pit bull tied to the bike. But I do not personally like pit bulls so RW is better.

Or perhaps a lo-jack for bikes. Could be possible to drop a lo-jack type device powered by batteries into the seat tube then install the seat to conceal it. A good electronics company could design such a thing if the market were there. Would need a test device for the owner to check battery power from time to time.

Originally posted by Max


_________
_________
As for the note, which threatens to "cut finger", this note will put you down immediately on the same or lower moral level as the thief. Cutting the finger would be illegal. Besides such a note would be the daily reminder of the human cruelty, which produces criminals in the first place.

If I saw such a note on someone's bike, I would thought - what a gangster rides this bike.


Max, I agree with most of what you wrote above. But I would like to make a comment to what is below the double line.
Of course noone is serious about actually cutting the finger off, not only doing that is a criminal act similar to murder, but it also might be illegal to carry that kind of thretening sticker on the bike. Because kids could accidently read it and have a bad psychological impact. The idea was, trying to control some of the thieves mind and thoughts. The note could be directly opposite tone, something like:

PLEASE, DON'T STEAL THIS BIKE. I HAD TO WORK A YEAR IN MC DONALDS AT MINIMUM WAGE TO AFFORD IT. I USE THE BIKE TO RIDE IT TO THE STORE, TO GET THE MILK FOR MY BLIND SISTERS :((

iT COULD HAVE TOUCH THE HEART OF SOME THIEVES, AS MANY OF THEM ARE REALLY NICE PERSONS WITH JUST A LITTLE MISLEADED MORAL PRINCIPLES.

http://www.angelfire.com/al2/misha18male6/mvc/velosiped1.jpg

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
The note could be directly opposite tone, something like:

PLEASE, DON'T STEAL THIS BIKE. I HAD TO WORK A YEAR IN MC DONALDS AT MINIMUM WAGE TO AFFORD IT. I USE THE BIKE TO RIDE IT TO THE STORE, TO GET THE MILK FOR MY BLIND SISTERS :((

iT COULD HAVE TOUCH THE HEART OF SOME THIEVES, AS MANY OF THEM ARE REALLY NICE PERSONS WITH JUST A LITTLE MISLEADED MORAL PRINCIPLES. But surely if they have misled moral principles they would have no problem stealing a bike no matter who it belonged to and how wrong it was.

How often do we hear news reports of people ripping off those who can least afford it?

The problem with the note idea is simply that you keep applying your own world view and ideals to the thieves. They don't care the way you do. They don't have respect for other the people the way you do.

That kind of note would stop you stealing a bike because you're a nice guy. The problem is you wouldn't steal the bike in the first place so you've achieved nothing.