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Has your bike ever been stolen or vandalized?

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Has your bike ever been stolen or vandalized?

Old 07-13-15, 01:45 PM
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Has your bike ever been stolen or vandalized?

So I'm leaving work yesterday when I notice the rear axel thingy that holds my rear wheel together is completely missing... Pissed off, I went to my works security office and the security guard and I reviewed the tapes. So piece of garbage attempted to steal my bike, but chickened out when he saw all the people around.

Luckily I use two massive U locks and one chain one on my bike. It's an entry level Specialized fitness hybrid, but it looks like a Mercedes ompared to the other bikes.

I'm now going to go buy a $100 beater to use on my commutes.
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Old 07-13-15, 02:24 PM
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Had 3 bikes stolen in my life. One was at an arcade, about 35 years ago. The other two were out of my garage, both more than 25 years ago.

Never had anyone mess with my bikes when I've ridden them to work. However I also work in pretty low-traffic areas, so someone would have to really go out of their way to find my bike in order to steal it.
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Old 07-13-15, 02:36 PM
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One bike stolen, newish IGH hybrid bike. Thief cut through a cable lock at subway station. Cut lock was still there. Reverted to beater bike and bought an On Guard hardened chain lock.
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Old 07-13-15, 04:24 PM
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Thankfully and luckily not yet.
At work I park my bike inside a secure, guarded facility , 100+ security cameras, 100% ID check, all visitors logged, so I don't even need to lock it. Everywhere else I ride my Gazelle if plan on parking any amount of time as it has a AXA Defender wheel lock with heavy tether chain, even if they cut the chain the bike wont be rideable and it weighs 65 lbs. My other bikes I just use a cable lock, and don't leave it out of sight.
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Old 07-13-15, 08:28 PM
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I wouldn't get a beater unless you really want amother bike...but maybe get yourself some locking skewers. Sounds like your locks did their job and deterred some scum from spending too long around your bike
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Old 07-13-15, 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by bmthom.gis
I wouldn't get a beater unless you really want amother bike...but maybe get yourself some locking skewers. Sounds like your locks did their job and deterred some scum from spending too long around your bike
This. Spend that $100 on a set of locks like Pinhead. That way you can keep riding the bike you like and not some old beater. As soon as I drop serious coin on me a new bike this fall, it will be outfitted with these.

https://www.pinheadlocks.com/store/e...at-collar.html
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Old 07-14-15, 08:31 PM
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While having a backup bike (or 3) is always a good idea, for when the mainstay commuter is Stolen, Vandalized, Crashed, In For Repair, or otherwise Indisposed. There are several good reasons for keeping to a minimum inventory of bikes.
If this is your situation, then I can heartily second the above recommendation for Pinheads. The Sporty-Quick bike has been wearing the complete ensemble for over 2 years, as the secondary layer of deterance of my U-lock based security, here on the mean streets of the 'City of Angels'.
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Old 07-15-15, 09:02 AM
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I don’t even lock mine up. I park in a garage full of armored limousines that requires a government security clearance for access…
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Old 07-15-15, 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by TheReal Houdini
I don’t even lock mine up. I park in a garage full of armored limousines that requires a government security clearance for access…
Sounds like you work with politicians. That's even more incentive to lock up your bike.
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Old 07-15-15, 10:35 AM
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This isn't my regular commuter but sometimes - I leave three locks at work and whatever I ride gets the same treatment.

Not a high-crime area but there have been bikes stolen from these racks - one time they cut the lock on my buddy's bike which was worth a lot less than this Merckx... so I'm assuming the crooks were deterred by the three-lock system. The basturds did steal my saddle pack though.
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Old 07-15-15, 03:10 PM
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One day at work someone thought that they'd be funny and open my rear break lever and let the air out of my tire. They never came clean on it.
V
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Old 07-16-15, 05:02 PM
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Every since I was a teenybopper and had my 1972 Schwinn Varsity stolen in a blink of an eye I've been very mindful of locking bikes. Now, luckily, at almost 56 I park my commuters in a bicycle locker right next to the maned office in our parking garage.
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Old 07-16-15, 05:15 PM
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My bike was stolen last weekend, Sunday. The guy was seen by my neighbors but apparently didn't act suspicious enough to hold their attention. So at 1pm on a Sunday, the little sneak went into my backyard, past my work on the back table and the fan running, there leaning againts my house, he walked my sweetheart out the back gate. Furious doesn't even begin to describe it. We were steps away in the house and that *(*Ahole stuck his snotty nose in our home!
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Old 07-17-15, 10:13 AM
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Had a cheap Schwinn stolen. I left it on my porch without a lock, which was in a yard adjacent to an alleyway frequented by some very interesting individuals with colorful personalities. That convinced me of spending some coin on a decent lock setup.

My current bike was not terribly expensive, but I put a lot of time into looking for the constituent parts and a decent effort into building it without having real bike tools or a stand. So now I use a u lock through the rear wheel and frame, with a braided cable running through the front wheel and rack. The bike gets locked up in a rehabbed butt hut which is now outfitted with aforementioned rack. It's very tucked away and not noticeable from the main road. I was told of its location after being indoctrinated into "the circle" at work after commuting through the so called polar vortex 2.0 this past winter. I was told to generally not let anyone know it's there, and apparently there is some merit to that as I have never seen anyone else there. There are plenty of open bike racks all over the surrounding campus, and people often lock their bikes up to parking meters, light poles, etc, some of them having only the front wheel locked to whatever object. So, I could use a more secure setup but easier targets abound.
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Old 07-17-15, 12:36 PM
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I pestered the property manager til she got corporate to install these. All you have to carry is a padlock and no one can mess with your bike.


They installed 2 which hold 4 bikes total.
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Old 07-17-15, 12:44 PM
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I've had a handful of bikes stolen.

My Mongoose has been stolen twice. Hopefully not a third time...

I'd say a $100 or less beater is crucial for everyday commute that doesn't involve your bike being right next to you throughout the workday.
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Old 07-17-15, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I've had a handful of bikes stolen.

My Mongoose has been stolen twice. Hopefully not a third time...

I'd say a $100 or less beater is crucial for everyday commute that doesn't involve your bike being right next to you throughout the workday.
I'd rather take the bus than commute on a $100 beater. Just saying, you don't always get a chance to defeat all the comers on.
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Old 07-17-15, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cale
I'd rather take the bus than commute on a $100 beater. Just saying, you don't always get a chance to defeat all the comers on.
I've seen some really nice $100 bikes on our CL. MTBs are usually the best deals. Just last week there was a 25 lb MTB up for $40. Needed $50 worth of tires and $10 worth of cables and bam, sweet commuter. If you shop wisely for tires that bike would end up at around 24 pounds.
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Old 07-17-15, 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I've seen some really nice $100 bikes on our CL. MTBs are usually the best deals. Just last week there was a 25 lb MTB up for $40. Needed $50 worth of tires and $10 worth of cables and bam, sweet commuter. If you shop wisely for tires that bike would end up at around 24 pounds.
I'd have no such luck. But I'm as certain that you'd get it done. I don't have the patience and fortunately where I park, there are patrols. "Where's that?" you ask. Elementary school my dear LesterOfPuppets, elementary school. Haha
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Old 07-17-15, 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by velocity
One day at work someone thought that they'd be funny and open my rear break lever and let the air out of my tire. They never came clean on it.
V
Wow. That's not the least bit funny.
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Old 07-17-15, 02:37 PM
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I haven't had any bikes stolen since I was a kid and my new BMX bike (Christmas present) was stolen out of our garage. Terrible feeling.

I'm fortunate to have a locked bike cage in an underground parking garage where I work. There's also a security grd an cameras at the exit. If that weren't enough, a fellow commuter parks his $8k Cervelo there each day. I feel pretty safe with my bike parked next to his.
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Old 07-17-15, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by cale
My bike was stolen last weekend, Sunday. The guy was seen by my neighbors but apparently didn't act suspicious enough to hold their attention. So at 1pm on a Sunday, the little sneak went into my backyard, past my work on the back table and the fan running, there leaning againts my house, he walked my sweetheart out the back gate. Furious doesn't even begin to describe it. We were steps away in the house and that *(*Ahole stuck his snotty nose in our home!
That sucks, cale! Sorry to hear it.
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Old 07-17-15, 09:24 PM
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I've had one stolen and actually go it back! Back in the early '90s I was in school again, renting a room from a friend. My '87 Giant MTB was locked in the shed out back. Two geniuses parked on the street behind us, came through an old lady's yard, hopped the fence, cut the lock on the shed, and took a bunch of things, including my bike out of the shed, and back the way they came. The old lady called the police. By the time they sent a cruiser, the thieves had loaded everything up and were heading for the pawn shop. (It was about 11 AM.) The cop said he had driven through the neighborhood and didn't see anything. A car went past, and he turned around and followed them all the way to the pawn shop, to ask them if THEY had seen anything. He said he pulled up behind them, got out, and walked up to their car, and asked them if they had seen anything as they were leaving the neighborhood. They said no. They were in some kind of old land yacht, and he noticed a bunch of stuff in the back seat, including my bike. Next he asked why they had a bike in the back seat instead of the trunk. They both pointed at each other and said, "It's his!" So he told them that he would have to hold on to them until he could figure out WHO the bike belonged to.
We didn't even know we'd been robbed until that afternoon, and when we reported it, the Nashville Metro PD told us they had some items recovered from a burglary. I still had my receipt for the bike, so I went down and identified it. They were tickled to death that the receipt for the bike was high enough to make it grand theft! I went to the hearing, and their court appointed lawyer tried to get them off with 90 days. I told them, no, I wanted to go to court and press charges. Then they actually pled guilty and got 3-5! I still have the bike, and it still has the Metro property ID number (505) on the top tube. I leave it on there for good luck. Oddly, "505" is the area code for New Mexico, where I live now.
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Old 07-18-15, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by RidingMatthew
All you have to carry is a padlock and no one can mess with your bike.
Nice but I hope it's a really good padlock.
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Old 07-18-15, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by asmac
Nice but I hope it's a really good padlock.
The round padlocks with protected, hardened shafts are really good. They're much, much, much harder to get through than almost any U-lock or chain. At that point it'd be easier to cut through the door than the lock.

The cheap "Master Locks" can be picked in 10 seconds with almost anything small enough to fit into the keyhole.
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