ParkingTheBus

I work at a large retail store and lock my bike up out front. There's a security camera near the bike rack. Two days in a row, I've had flat rear tires. Yesterday I thought it was something random, but it happened again today.

I'm fuming mad. I'm going to call store security tommorow and see if they can review footage. There's no way that this is just a coincidence as the cap for the valve was off. I'll also put a sign on my bike saying "you're being watched" or something like that...

zonatandem

Tie a vicious pit bull to your parked bike . . .

Dave Cutter

It sounds like someone thinks you have no sense of humor. Why let it get under your skin? Just pump up the tires and go on.

mijome07

A deflated tire is not a flat tire.

gregjones

So........

If you are convinced that someone cares enough about you to screw with your bike, twice, don't bother us now. Review the tapes, identify the culprit and then let us know what you did knowing who to go after.

I did have the lug nuts come loose on my truck one evening on the way home a decade ago. But, it was parked at a construction site in Atlanta all day with a bumper sticker that read "If I'd known there be this much trouble, I'd have picked my own damn cotton".

It's possible that you did something to make someone upset about something.

HumanPower

Put something nasty on the valve caps (oil, shoe polish or ?). Hopefully that's the end of the deflated tires.

ParkingTheBus

Well, I can't believe some of the replies ITT. it is a BIG deal. Somebody is tampering with my property, that's not acceptable.

This is a good idea, thanks

mgw4jc

I had to look up what the abbreviation ITT is for. One option on Urban Dictionary is "Intense Testicular Tension."

It could very well be a co-worker trying to get a rise out of you.
Park the bike somewhere else?
Deflate the tires yourself before going into work?

mijome07

I agree 100%. But like I said in the previous post (and I wasn't being sarcastic), "a deflated tire is not a flat tire."

I rather have a deflated tire than a slashed tire/tube. Find out who it is and confront them.

If you put something on the valves to detour them, they'll move onto something else to mess with on the bike.

You're telling them you wanna play their game(s). Don't encourage them to continue.

treebound 

ITT??? Perhaps part of the issue, lesser things have set people off before, but anyway back to the bike...

+1 of reviewing the video. There have been cases of bicycles and motorcycles and cars being disabled in a basic way by someone to ensure the vehicle is still there after hours and to hopefully ensure that the owner will not be there. There was a period of time where thieves were removing car batteries, then coming back late in the evening and reinstalling the batteries and then stealing the car. I've also read of thieves removing saddles and/or front wheels hoping the owner will leave the bike locked up and to find a ride home, then the thieves come back later after hours when nobody is around and then cut the lock and reinstall the parts and then ride off on the now stolen bike. Or it could just be a co-worker or customer messing with you for some unknown reason, could be a warped prank (no damage so no harm in their mind)(if it wasn't a prank then they'd just poke a hole in your tire to do damage).

So, use caution, try to identify the actor, and try not to escalate the situation unless/until that becomes necessary. Then follow up and let us know what you found out. Hope I didn't exhibit any ITT tendencies?

wphamilton

Two incidents just might be someone who knows you and happened to be at the store those days, but more than two in a short period of time I'd be almost sure it was a co-worker. You need to nip that in the bud. Perhaps ask around, see who thinks it's funny or is elaborately nonchalant. Mention it to a supervisor.

fietsbob

The Local Safeway only let the guy that worked overnight doing the shelf restocking , bring his second bike inside, after the first one was stolen.

RubeRad

Fill your tires with Mustard Gas or Sarin if you can get it...

ParkingTheBus

Sadly I may have to do this. I will try to find another place to park it. Thankfully the place I parked it has a video camera though.

The first time I thought it was a normal punctured tube so I brought it in to my LBS. Second time it was the same thing. I pumped it up when I got home so it was just a flat tire thankfully, you're right.

ITT means "In this thread" Lol. Anyways, I called my stores security and they said that they would check out video footage. If it was up to me, I swear to god I would lock my bike outside, wait inside my car and wait to see what happens... Sadly I'm only 22, a student and can't afford one. My store has over 400 employee's so it'll be hard to discover whose been doing it.

If it persists, I will file a police report. I am also going to invest in a wireless alarm (just like a car) that makes a sound when my bike starts vibrating.



Yep, I wish but I don't see the store allowing me to bring it in. My last job (nightshift) let me do that.

fietsbob

Me, .. Brompton folding bike gets to come in a lot of places , big wheel bikes wont ..

treebound 

I picked up a small screamer type alarm a few months ago at a thrift shop for a few dollars, has a small pull cord to set it off kind of like a panic alarm and it is LOUD. I've thought of figuring out a way to rig it up to the bike where if the bike is moved then it would go off, problem is with wind and with other people putting bikes in a nearby rack location.

rmfnla

This made my day...

cwar

I like the way this guy thinks.

rmfnla

No doubt the pit bull idea appeals to you as well...

Dahon.Steve

I stopped reading your post after there. You would NEVER park your bike in front of a large retail store. Teens and other children will trash your bike. Find a place away from foot traffic and maybe the back of the store.

The attacks may become more aggressive with your bike being destroyed like mine was. The crook couldn't break my Kryptonite NY 3000 Ulock so he dismantled my bike. I've had people loosen the bolts on my front wheel hoping I wouldn't notice and crash.

TransitBiker

This is the funniest ******g thing i've read on here by far.

- Andy

mgw4jc

Glad I could help out. I figure if you deflate the tires yourself, you'll deflate the vandal's enthusiasm and he'll move on.

jfowler85

Find the culprit, break into his house while he's sleeping, and give him a hot carl.

ParkingTheBus

I have an idea..

There's a local nursing home near my work that has a hidden bicycle rack. Nobody ever uses it. Would it be a d1ck move to lock my bike up there and walk 5 minutes to work?

laflavor

Probably not, but I'd walk to the front desk and ask first anyway. Just say, "Hey, I work at such and such store a couple minutes away and they don't have a suitable bike rack for me. Would you mind if I parked my bike here during the day?"